Annual Whole Building Energy Simulation of the NIST Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility Design

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to construct a Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF). The initial goal of the NZERTF is to demonstrate that a net-zero energy residential design can “look and feel” like a typical home in the Gaithersburg area. Demonstration phase of the project intends to demonstrate that the operation of the house does perform at “net zero,” or produces as much electricity as it consumes over an entire year. The NZERTF is scheduled to begin the demonstration phase in 2013. The purpose of this report is to create a whole building energy simulation that will replicate the NZERTF design to estimate its energy performance, both in aggregate as well as at the individual occupant and equipment level.