- Keep fridges and freezers running efficiently bydefrosting regularly. A build up of ice causes the compressor to work much harder and uses more energy.
- Position ULTs in well ventilated, cool spaces where possible.
- Switching from-80°C to -70°Ccan save up to 30% on energy costs and conserve the life of the compressor
- Minimise how many times you open the door
- Keeping a door open for more than 30 seconds will cause a rapid temperature rise
- Know where your samples are by keeping an inventory form
- Moisture enters every time the door is opened, causing a build up of frost on the seals, a build up of this will damage them and make doors harder to close
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Close the door properly
Saving energy in the Lab
Labs account for 40% of the energy usage of a campus yet they take up 20% of the space. Some speciality laboratories such as clean rooms or microscope facilities can consume up to 100 times more energy than an equivalent office space.
The government Climate Action Plan set targets for greenhouse gas emissions and energy, aiming to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 51% in 2030 from a 2016-2018 baseline and increase overall energy efficiency to 50% by 2030. For UCD, this means a reduction in carbon dioxide associated with running buildings on campus.
Implementing energy-saving methods is crucial not only for reducing operational costs but also for minimising the environmental impact. To achieve this, laboratories can adopt several strategies. First, upgrading to energy-efficient lighting such as LED fixtures can significantly reduce electricity consumption. Implementing occupancy sensors and timers for lighting and equipment can ensure that resources are only used when necessary. Proper insulation such as sealing doors and windows can help maintain a stable temperature and reduce the strain on air handling systems. Reporting maintenance issues such as lights remaining on at night and closing windows each evening as well as maintaining energy-efficient appliances can lead to substantial energy savings. Finally, fostering a culture of energy conservation among laboratory users is essential for achieving these energy-saving targets. This can help laboratories minimise energy usage while maintaining the quality and safety of research.
Examples of simple measures you can implement to reduce energy consumption in your lab:
- Choose rechargeable batteries and recycle old ones
- Ensure the hood sash is down when not in use
- Turn the lights off when you are the last person leaving. Switch to more energy efficient LED lighting
- Turn office and lab computers and equipment off when not in use i.e. Centrifuge, drying ovens
- Don’t leave reactions on overnight where possible i.e. Thermocycler
- Turn off plug/switches where possible
- Maintain fridges & freezers to ensure optimal functioning
Turning off the lights or switching to sensor activated lights and LED bulbs can save energy. Here's an example calculation using hypothetical values:
- Incandescent bulb: 60 watts
- LED bulb: 8 watts
- Hours of use per day: 4 hours
- Cost per kWh: €0.34 (please use the actual cost from your electricity bill)
Calculation:
- Wattage difference = 60W - 8W (LED) = 52 W
- Convert to kW = 52W / 1000 = 0.052 kW
- Daily cost savings = 0.052 kW * €0.34/kWh = €0.017 per day
- Annual savings = €0.017/day * 365 days = €6.20 per bulb per year
In this example where one kWh of electricity costs €0.34, switching from an incandescent to an LED bulb would save approximately €6.20 per bulb per year.
Consider fitting 7-day timer plugs to set different operational hours during weekends and evenings for equipment such as ovens and water baths so that they are not running unnecessarily overnight or all day. This could save up to ⅓ in energy use.