Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Energy

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. 

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 

Cold Storage

  • Keep fridges and freezers running efficiently by defrosting 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°C can save up to 30% on energy costs and conserve the life of the compressor

Minus 70 degrees celsius freezer room

  • 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

  • Close the door properly

 

Turn off lights

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:

  1. Wattage difference = 60W - 8W (LED) = 52 W
  2. Convert to kW = 52W / 1000 = 0.052 kW
  3. Daily cost savings = 0.052 kW * €0.34/kWh = €0.017 per day
  4. 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. 
 

Timer plugs

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.

 

Office PCs 

A desktop PC running idle on a screensaver uses 550kWh over a year just on evenings and weekends. Switching off desktop PC each evening for 10 weeks would amount to 100kWh (~€25). If you include all the screens, laptops, monitors, TVs and other appliances across the University using electricity at night and weekends in this way, the potential for saving energy really adds up!

 

See more at:

https://ucdestates.ie/about/sustainability/energy-management/

Chemical fume hoods

Shut the sash! - For every cubic meter of air exhausted from a chemical fume hood, another cubic meter of outdoor air needs to be conditioned and supplied to the building. 

Check the rate of air flow these are set to and see if it can be lowered while still maintaining a safe rate of air flow.

 

Chemical fume hood angled view, sash closed