Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) – Golden, CO
Project Term: Current – December 31, 2016
Funding Type: Direct Lab Funding

Project Objective

NREL will work to increase the capability, cost-effectiveness, and reach of the Residential Buildings Integration (RBI) program through the development of software tools, analysis methods, technical procedures, and data collection standards to accelerate the adoption of zero energy ready homes. NREL’s activities will include the following:

  • Significantly enhancing existing tools and analysis methods to achieve more capable, accurate, and consistent results for zero energy ready homes
  • Fully integrating residential capabilities into the Building Technologies Office’s larger open-source software ecosystem (OpenStudio and EnergyPlus) and analysis platform (Scout)
  • Making the software tools, analysis capabilities, and research data more accessible to a wider audience (e.g., private-sector Home Energy Rating System [HERS] and home performance tools, government, utilities, and implementers)

Project Impact

RBI has developed state-of-the-art tools and analysis capabilities for evaluating technologies and whole-building energy performance. These resources have the ability to be used extensively by Building America, ENERGY STAR®, Zero Energy Ready Home, and the broader home performance industry.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Dale Hoffmeyer
Lead Performer: Eric Wilson, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

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