CHAMPAIGN –Even while dealing with the challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign remained committed to conserving energy in campus laboratories. This year, 34 labs combined to save an estimated 385,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or the equivalent of 35 typical U.S. homes[1] as a part of the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge. The amount is a new campus record.
For these efforts, the U of I was honored for a fourth straight year after earning first place in the Academic Organization category for reducing the environmental impact by improving cold storage practices in university facilities. The university will receive a special “Winning Streak Award” in 2021 for its continued success in this annual seven-month event.
|
2021 U OF I FREEZER CHALLENGE RESULTS
|
|
385,075 Kwh’s
$32,385
34 participating labs
1055 kWh/day saved
|
Dr. Madhu Khanna, interim director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), said, “I’m very proud to see our university researchers work together with lab managers and facilities staff to win this prestigious award for the fourth time in a row. iSEE promotes both research on sustainability and its practice on campus, so it is great to see our science community participate in meaningful, real-world efforts to mitigate climate change. It helps bolster our position as a world leader in sustainability.”
Over 222 labs, from 17 countries worldwide and representing 113 research institutions, competed in this year’s challenge, which resulted in a combined savings of 4.3 million kWh – the equivalent of reducing carbon by 3,000 metric tons per year. My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) will formally recognize the university’s achievement at the I2SL conference on Monday, September 27, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Ehab Kamarah, interim executive director of Facilities & Services, said, “The most exciting aspect of this award is seeing that these conservation efforts work well in the research areas of campus. They are being incorporated into daily operations, so they continue to improve laboratory efficiency year after year and contribute to the Operational Excellence @ Illinois goals of the Next 150[2], the university’s strategic plan.”
Keeping laboratory samples cold is an essential part of research activities and to ensure the safety and integrity of projects and experiments. As a Tier One research university, the numerous refrigerators, freezers, and cooling equipment used at the U of I present a significant opportunity to further energy conservation efforts and achieve sustainability goals. Increasing the number of green labs on campus is a key step as the university strives to meet energy-use reduction goals in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).
From January through July, researchers filled out scorecards to earn points for implementing cold management storage best practices that improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and protect sample integrity. Techniques being used consistently in labs across campus include:
- Regularly managing and organizing samples to avoid overcrowding and reduce the number of cold storage units needed
- Defrosting units to prevent the buildup of ice
- Washing and replacing filters as recommended by the manufacturer’s guidelines and vacuuming condenser coils and removing any debris that potentially blocks heat exchange
- Checking doors and component seals to prevent the loss of conditioned air
- Performing regular equipment checks and scheduling preventive maintenance
- Barcoding and tracking sample inventory, utilizing room temperature storage techniques, and sharing space to increase efficiency
- Reducing overall space utilization also lowers greenhouse gas emissions
|
TOP-PERFORMING LABORATORIES ENERGY SAVED
|
|
1. Rose Metallo – College of ACES, Office of Research
2. Evan London – Prairie Research Institute
3. Beth Penner – Institute for Genomic Biology
4. Julie Nguyen – College of Veterinary Medicine
5. Hong Chen – College of ACES, Food Science & Human Nutrition
Best energy reduction – Vijay Singh – College of ACES, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory
|
96.6 kWh/day
90.8 kWh/day
76.5 kWh/day
62.5 kWh/day
62.2 kWh/day
160 kWh/day
|
All campus labs can take part in the next Freezer Challenge beginning in January 2022. Researchers interested in participating are encouraged to contact Facilities & Services to get started. More information about the U of I Freezer Challenge is available at https://go.fs.illinois.edu/freezerchallenge.
|
Media Contact:
|
Department Contact:
|
|
Steve Breitwieser
|
Paul Foote
|
|
Customer Relations & Communications
Facilities & Services
|
Utilities & Energy Services
Facilities & Services
|
|
sbreit@illinois.edu
|
gfoote2@illinois.edu
|
|
217-300-2155
|
217-244-1048
|
U of I Wins 2021 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge PDF