Post on 24-Feb-2016
description
Rachel Novick, Ph.D.Office of Sustainability
University of Notre Damegreen.nd.edu
Sustainable Scientists: Integrating Lab Users into
Sustainable Laboratory Solutions
Campus laboratories use ~4 times more electricity than comparably sized office buildings.
Average Dorm
Main Build-ing
Grace DeBartolo Hall
Nieuwland Stepan Jordan Fitzpatrick Galvin0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000Electricity Use (kwh/year)
Resources
Laboratories for the 21st Century (Department of Energy)
http://www.labs21century.gov
University of California Santa Barbara LabRATS program
http://sustainability.ucsb.edu/LARS/
Harvard University Green Labs program
http://green.harvard.edu/fas/labs
Hypotheses
1. A significant percentage of the electrical load in laboratory buildings is under the control of researchers.
2. Researchers can be motivated to change their behavior to reduce electrical loads.
Test Case: 6 Biology Labs & 12 Chemistry Labs
4 Step Program Structure
1. Informational meeting and walk-through Time commitment for lab representative: ~30 minutes
2. Approval of recommended metering and preventative maintenance Time commitment for PI & lab representative: ~30 minutes
3. Metering and preventative maintenance Time commitment for lab representative: 1-3 hours, can be split
up over multiple days
4. Summary and recommendations for the future Time commitment for lab PI & staff: ~30 minutes
Strategy for Achieving Acceptance
• Validation by Deans and Chairs of the College of Science
• Presentation at departmental faculty meetings – opportunity for Q&A
• Invitation to participate comes from department chairs
• Safety training
• Stress potential benefits to lab:• Free labor• Free thermometer exchange• Extended equipment life• Rebate offers for equipment upgrades
The Walk-Through
Major Topics Covered
• Number of researchers• Occupancy hours• Safety hazards• Lights• Thermostats• Mercury thermometers• Number & size of fume hoods• Fume hood practices• Computer sleep settings• Printer defaults• Single stream recycling• Battery and toner cartridge recycling• Equipment maintenance• Freezer defrost schedule• Equipment sharing
Appliance Data
Information Collected for all Major Appliances
• Brand & Model• Temperature Setting• Percent Utilization• Frequency of Use• Cleaning or defrosting needed• Appliance placement
Data collected so far include:
• 32 Ovens• 16 Refrigerators• 25 Freezers• 10 -80 ultra low freezers• 22 Refrigerator freezer combos• 3 Cold Rooms
Metering
Average Wattage by Appliance Type
Autocla
ve (1
)
Chilled
Centrif
uge
(1)
Centrif
uge (
1)
Fridg
e/Free
zer (7
)
Ovens
(20)
Freeze
rs (11
)
Refrige
rators
(8)
Incub
ator (6
)0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Opportunit ies: Ovens
Fishe
r Isote
mp 655
F
Fishe
r Isote
mp 500
Precis
ion 65
22
Blue Ov18
A
Fishe
r Isote
mp 500
Them
o Prec
ision 6
530
Fishe
r Isote
mp M63
7G
Them
olyne
OV3502
5
Fishe
r 255
G
Fishe
r Isote
mp M63
7G
Fishe
r Isote
mp
Fishe
r Isote
mp M63
7G
Sarge
nt S6
3995
Fishe
r Isote
mp
Fishe
r
Fishe
r 255
G
Blue St
abil-T
herm
Precis
ion Th
elco 1
5
Precis
ion Th
elco 1
80
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
Avg. watts
Opportunit ies: Ovens
Average Wattage by Appliance Type
Autocla
ve (1
)
Chilled
Centrif
uge
(1)
Centrif
uge (
1)
Cold ro
om (2
)
Fridg
e/Free
zer (7
)
Ovens
(20)
Freeze
rs (11
)
Refrige
rators
(8)
Incub
ator (6
)0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
Opportunit ies: Fume Hoods
Opportunit ies: Fume Hoods
What We’ve Learned
• Conservation opportunities for fume hood behavior can be on the order of 10,000 pounds CO2e annually per lab.
• The 20 ovens we metered so far use the equivalent electricity of 5 average U.S. homes.
• Shared equipment such as cold rooms often fall through the cracks.
• Researchers are willing to be engaged in an energy audit program – getting them to change their behavior is a lot harder.
What’s Next
• Demo of efficient oven to be offered as a replacement
• Mercury thermometer exchange
• Formalization of lab reps
• More lab audits