Green Labs Certification

The Energy action category mainly relies on forming new habits and consumption awareness. To be eligible for a Blue certification, the below Easy, Medium, and Advanced tiers must be sufficiently fulfilled. To be eligible for a Gold certification, both the Blue and Gold requirements must be met.

Easy (5 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Label equipment with start-up & shut-down procedures
2. Label light switches on a panel with more than one.
3. Set every computer to enter power-save mode within 10 minutes unless it must remain on
4. Ensure that all fume hoods are fully operational, can shut properly, and that no ventilation shafts within the building are blocked
5. Post a sticker on the fume hood to remind members to shut the sash

Medium (4 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Check and switch all pieces of equipment to energy saving modes
2. Have all lab members pledge to use power-saving features on their personal monitors and computers
3. Have all lab members pledge to close the windows when the air conditioning is on
4. Develop a habit of turning lab lights off at the end of the day for 30 consecutive days
5. Develop a habit of turning all monitors off at the end of the day for 30 consecutive days

Advanced (3 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Have all lab members pledge to turn off lights when daylight is adequate
2. Have all lab members pledge to turn off lights in rooms that are only used sporadically
3. Determine which equipment must stay on, turn off all other equipment until they are needed (ex: thermal cyclers, water baths)
4. Unplug equipment that is not used regularly

Gold (3 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Install occupancy sensor lighting in the lab
2. Order only LED replacements when fluorescent tubes burn out (for all lights possible)
3. Replace an outdated model of equipment with a newer, EnergyStar certified model
4. Install shut-off timers for all equipment that can be turned off until needed (ex: thermal cyclers, water baths)

The Cold Storage action category mainly relies on regular maintenance and increasing unit efficiency. To be eligible for a Blue certification, the below maintenance and efficiency practices must be implemented. To be eligible for a Gold certification, the maintenance, efficiency, and Gold Star practices must be sufficiently implemented.

Green Labs Freezer Sustainability Certification Pilot Program pamphlet

ULT Freezer Sustainable Practices pamphlet

ULT Freezer Sustainable Practices one-pager (print out for in-lab use)

General Maintenance (all practices implemented per unit)

These practices decrease energy consumption by eliminating potential interference with freezer performance, and ultimately increase unit longevity and efficiency.

1. Place all freezer units on an annual defrosting schedule
2. Place all freezer units on a monthly maintenance schedule (frost removal, dust removal, filter cleaning, and seal/gasket cleaning)
3. Clear out unneeded samples each month

Efficiency Practices (all practices implemented per unit)

Research has shown that “chilling up” your ULT can reduce energy consumption by 30-40%, while still maintaining sample integrity. Keeping your unit well-organized can maximize storage capacity, increase operational longevity, and reduce open-door time temperature fluctuations (which consume excess energy when restoring ultra-low temperatures). 

1. Set unit temperature to -70°C rather than -80°C
2. Optimize sample organization within the unit
3. Fill empty spaces with polystyrene ice or other insulation; avoid large, empty spaces in the unit
4. Implement high-density storage and vertical rack systems
5. Ensure at least 5″ of clear space around and 8″ of clear space behind the unit

Gold Star Practices (2 out of 5 practices implemented)

These final steps can help to reduce the total energy consumption of the lab by increasing energy efficiency, reducing open-door time, and optimizing storage space.

1. Implement a barcoded inventory system per unit
2. Share cold storage space with another lab
3. Implement room temperature sample storage (RTSS) for applicable samples
4. Empty, drain, dry, and unplug unneeded freezer units
5. Retire older units and upgrade to Energy Star models

The Water action category mainly relies on forming new habits, establishing new protocols, and limiting equipment consumption. To be eligible for a Blue certification, the below Easy, Medium, and Advanced tiers must be sufficiently fulfilled. To be eligible for a Gold certification, both the Blue and Gold requirements must be met.

Easy (5 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Create and maintain protocols for efficiently washing lab supplies
2. Utilize only tap water (not DI or purified) for cleaning and non-critical tasks whenever possible
3. Have lab members pledge to immediately report leaks or plumbing issues
4. Establish a protocol to only run faucets when necessary to avoid wasting water
5. Have lab members pledge to always have eyes on a running water source to avoid wasting water or overflow

Medium (4 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Develop a habit of only running equipment that uses water when full (ex: washers and autoclaves) for 30 days
2. Check for leaks each month as a part of standard laboratory protocol
3. Establish protocols to only use DI, RO, or purified water when it is absolutely necessary for the task
4. Use thermal beads instead of water in relevant equipment
5. Have lab members pledge to shut off water-using equipment when they are not required to run

Advanced (3 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Retrofit steam jacket autoclaves with water-saving, steam capture devices
2. Install aerators on all possible lab faucets to limit flow
3. Implement proper maintenance schedules to optimize autoclave performance
4. Install shut-down timers to limit consumption on all possible water-intensive equipment

Gold (3 out of 5 practices implemented)

1. Replace all single-pass cooling systems with closed-loop systems
2. Replace all possible water vacuum aspirators with vacuum pumps
3. Replace an older autoclave with a new model that does not use steam jackets
4. Utilize waterless condenser devices in all relevant equipment