Sustainability and Science: How Eco-Friendly Labs are Contributing to a Greener World

There’s absolutely no question that scientific laboratories are beneficial and much-needed in the world. It’s in scientific and biological research facilities that research is conducted and implemented, and cures and medicines are created. And, because the attraction to science is to make the world a better place, many laboratories are pursing noble goals beyond their work, such as going green in the lab.

Across the country, science labs are stepping up their game in an effort to contribute to a greener world. In an effort to be more eco-friendly, labs are gravitating toward projects that help the environment as well as participating in research activities that are less impactful.

Designing an Eco-Friendly Lab:

An eco-friendly lab doesn’t waste energy; in fact, reducing energy waste is a top priority. That’s because laboratories are notorious for their energy usage. For example, Harvard University is more than 25 million square feet and laboratories account for only 21 percent of that space; yet, those labs consume nearly half the campus’s energy.

“It’s a very energy-intensive space,” says Jamie Bermis, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Green Program Coordinator at Harvard. Simply put, laboratories consume the majority of campus utilities, as well as business labs, which also hemorrhage energy.

If possible, you may want to consider moving your lab to a more efficient location or using a service to house your lab’s equipment while you renovate. With today’s improved sciences (at-temperature backup freezers, electrical systems, etc.), lab relocation is safer than ever and an efficiently designed laboratory is going to cost less to operate.

Here are some eco-friendly ideas for the lab:

·  Close the sashes on unused chemical fume hoods

·  Defrost freezers

·  Shut off lights and other power guzzlers at the end of the day

·  Participate in multiple batch rinses instead of running the water all day

·  Pick green chemicals over non-green ones

Eco-Friendly Labs to Look Up To:

Some campus labs are already as green as they can be. Or, they’re on their way to reducing energy waste and thus reducing costs. These are a few of the best performing labs, and you can emulate their behaviors to make your lab that much more sustainable.

Harvard University FAS Sherman Fairchild Laboratory:

Harvard has always set a precedence in terms of eco-friendliness. The FAS Sherman Fairchild Lab is one of the most recent built-on-campus projects that is unique in its composition. In fact, 91 percent of the lab’s building materials are recycled. It was also built so that 97 percent of the lab is exposed to natural sunlight. Additionally, the lab was built using low VOC paints and sealants.

Pomona College Richard C. Seaver Biology Building: