NIST conducts fundamental research and develops tools to advance climate-related standards, frameworks, and measurements, including:
- measurement methods, calibrations and performance metrics,
- reference materials and data,
- Unique facilities and test benches and
- Technical guidance and resources for communities and researchers.
To achieve its mission, NIST relies on key partnerships with the public and private sectors. NIST's efforts fall into several categories:
- Climate measurement and monitoring: Working with federal partners, NIST provides the public and private sectors with the measurements they need for climate-related monitoring, forecasting and decision-making. Learn more.
- Basic research to decarbonize the economy: The country needs to modernize its infrastructure to continue meeting society's daily needs while minimizing the costs of energy production and consumption. NIST's fundamental research drives innovation and enables improvements to the nation's infrastructure to support advances in energy technology. Learn more.
- Infrastructure resilience: NIST helps make the nation's infrastructure – including hospitals, energy and communications systems – safer, more interoperable and more resilient to potential disasters. Learn more.
Additionally, NIST's Applied Economics Office is leading a range of assessment efforts that can inform investment decisions related to materials manufacturing, building design, and utilities and help improve the circular economy of plastics.
Examples of tools developed by NIST include the Building Industry Reporting and Design for Sustainability (BIRDS) and Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) packages.