Greening Your Lab

Responsible Conduct of Research Duke UniversityOctober 8, 2013

Presenter:

Randy SmithManager, Department of Biology

Convener, Green Labs at Duke

Green Labs at Duke is a group of faculty, staff and students dedicated to promoting sustainable practices in

Duke University’s research and teaching laboratories.

Overview:• Define sustainability• Impacts of research labs• Mitigating the impacts through best practices• Duke Green Lab Certification• Small group discussion of individual labs• Regroup – discussion of issues• Current projects

What is Sustainability?

“Meeting all the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Impacts of Research LabsEnergy

Labs are 5 times more energy intensive than other campus spaces, on average.

Cost to operate a fume hood at Duke is $5000 per year. Same cost as running 3.5 houses.

Cost to operate an ultralow freezer at Duke is $1200 per year.

Impacts of Research Labs Energy

Trent Drive Hall Rubenstein Hall Wilson Recreation

Bryan Center Phytotron Fitzpatrick French Science Biological Sciences

LSRC0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

350.0

400.0

450.0

500.0

3-year average EUI (kBtu/sqft/yr)

Impacts of Research LabsWater

VentilationEquipment coolingAspiratorsPurified waterSterilizersDish and pipet washers

Impacts of Research LabsWater

Trent Drive Hall

Rubenstein Hall

Wilson Recreation

Bryan Center Phytotron Fitzpatrick French Science Biological Sciences

LSRC -

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

CF Water

Impacts of Research LabsChemical Waste

2011: 72,495 pounds of Hazardous Waste

2013: 87,000 pounds expected

Hazardous Waste is 25% of total chemical waste

Impacts of Research LabsSolid Waste

French Science Waste Audit

66 pounds in one day, 37% recyclable

Green Lab Certification

The Green Lab Certification Program was jointly developed by Sustainable Duke and Green Labs at Duke. We would like to recognize the work of the Office of

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability of University of California – Davis, LabRats of the University of California - Santa Barbara, Higher Education

Environmental Performance Improvement of the UK and Yale University Office of Sustainability for inspiration and some of the content of this certification program.

Green Lab Certification

Three levels – Bronze, Silver and GoldPrerequisites plus points Points as a percentage of applicable pointsPrerequisites only = BronzePrerequisites plus 50% of applicable points = SilverPrerequisites plus 90% of applicable points = Gold

Green Lab Certification

Certification Checklist

Certification Checklist Guide

http://sustainability.duke.edu/action/certifications/labs/index.php

Green Lab Certification Process

• Review Guide to Certification Checklist• Complete online Certification Checklist• Certification

Green Lab CertificationManagement and Training

• Think about your lab practices

• Participate in Green Labs at Duke (at some level)

• Communicate within your lab

Green Lab CertificationEnergy Conservation

• Fume Hood – sash closed and hood certified

• Cold Storage – freezers maintained, contents relevant, number of small units minimized

• Equipment use maximized and turned off when not in use

Green Lab CertificationWater Conservation

• No single pass cooling

• No water powered aspirators

• Minimize purified water use

Green Lab CertificationChemical Storage and Use

• OESO lab audit

• Up to date chemical inventory

• Minimize chemical use/storage

• Share with other labs

Green Lab CertificationGreen Purchasing

• Energy Star

• Coordinate ordering to minimize packaging

• Order from “green vendors”

Green Lab CertificationRecycling and Waste Reduction

• Recycle plastics, glass, metals, paper and cardboard

• Recycle Electronics

• Recycle Styrofoam

• Electronic journals

Green Lab CertificationField Work

Leave no trace – recover flagging, equipment, batteries, etc.

Green Lab CertificationMeeting and Conference Travel

• Buy carbon offsets for travel or meetings

• Skype

Green Lab CertificationSelf-assessment and Innovation

Special circumstances in your lab

All your great ideas!

Small Groups Discussion

Questions and Issues from Small Groups

Current Project - Growth Chamber Lighting

Current Project - Growth Chamber Lighting

• Old - 8 400W metal halide lamps and 6 60W incandescent lamps with total 3560W.

• New - The Cycloptics™ All-Bright™ luminaire consists of 4 Philips Elite Agro™ 315W ceramic metal halide lamps with total 1260W.

• Light (PAR) intensity same • Conversion cost $2700

Current Project - Growth Chamber Lighting

Electrical savings - $1012 per yearHVAC savings - $1259 per year

Payback 14 months

Current Project - Sterling Ultralow Freezer

Current Project - Sterling Ultralow Freezer

• The Sterling freezer uses 50% of the electricity

of the control freezer - savings $344 per year• The Sterling freezer has potential to reduce the

cooling requirements of the building – savings $199 per year

• $4500 cost premium• Payback 8.3 Years

Current Project - Sterling Ultralow Freezer

Lifetime Cost = purchase price + maintenance and operating costs over the life of the product.

No compressor repair – savings $3500

Payback could be significantly shorter.

Current Project - Shut the Sash

Current Project – Shut the Sash

Current Project - Shut the Sash

Variable volume vs Constant volume fume hoods

Variable volume - open sash $5000 year closed sash $2000 per year

Constant volume – airflow bypass

Current Project - French Science Center Lab Ventilation

Aircuity Monitoring and Control for thirty non-teaching lab rooms

High intensity teaching labs will be programmed to reduce air flows during non-teaching hours

Fume hood minimum air flow reduction

Current Project - French Science Center Lab Ventilation

Energy use reduced 10%

Project cost - $915,000

Annual savings - $232,000

Current Project – Lathe House Watering

Questions and Comments