NIST’s zero-net energy test facility to help develop self-sufficient homes

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has unveiled, it claims, the country’s first zero net-energy residential test facility, which is located at its campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The institute invited local, federal and state officials to mark the occasion by attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It is hoped that the facility, which makes use of solar PV and solar water heating systems, will help the US housing industry to develop guidelines for the development of self-sufficient homes in the future. It will also be used as a testing facility for new and existing energy efficient technologies and eventually, for the commercialization of cutting-edge clean energy technologies.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

In the short term, the facility will be used for research into residential self-sufficient homes as reported by our sister site Design Build Solar. The building, which looks like a standard American home, has four bedrooms and three bathrooms over two storeys. Scientists at NIST will use computer simulations and mechanical controls to mimic the activities of a four-person household over an entire year. It will run efficient appliances and lighting that are set to turn on and off at pre-determined times. All energy will be sourced directly from the home.

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the facility was designed and developed by NIST in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Building America Program and Building Science Corp, an architecture and consulting company.
 

Read Next

July 10, 2025
German renewables company BayWa r.e. has secured a €3 billion (US$3.5 billion) loan for 'operational initiatives and pipeline expansion.'
July 10, 2025
US renewables developer Invenergy has launched commercial operations of 250MW Fairbanks Solar Energy Center in Sullivan County, Indiana. 
July 10, 2025
US solar residential installer Sunnova has entered into a stalking horse asset purchase agreement with Omnidian for some of its assets.
July 10, 2025
A report published by the US Department of Energy (DOE) this week claims that the previous government’s support for renewable energy could cause blackouts to “increase by 100 times” by 2030.
July 10, 2025
UbiQD has signed a supply agreement with First Solar to supply its fluorescent quantum dot technology for use in the latter’s PV panels.
July 10, 2025
Copenhagen Energy has partnered with Thy-Mors Energi to set up a 100MW PV and BESS project in Ballerum, about 370km from Copenhagen. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK