When I think back to my days of studying the aerial battles between bats and insects, one thing sticks in my mind: the hum from the equipment in the rack beside my rig. The oscilloscope, sound generator, recording devices, breadboards with experimental electrical circuits, and more all flashed and buzzed. I thought about the results, and not about the energy consumption.
Today, scientists probably think more about energy use than they did in my lab days, but there’s always something to consider. Should a device be turned off when it’s not in use? You might assume the answer is an easy “yes,” but this is science—we need to think about it a bit before drawing a conclusion.
From the environmental health and safety group at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.)—which happens to be where I did my research decades ago—laboratory ventilation specialist Ellen Sweet, says, “A rule of thumb about turning off equipment would be that it’s best to know the equipment won’t be damaged or require a lengthy start-up before actually hitting the off switch.”
Variations in labs make it hard to create unbreakable rules. According to Erin Fry, founder and director of UChicago GreenLabs at the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. candidate in human genetics, “Every lab is different, and they do not all have the same equipment.” Obviously, some lab devices, like refrigerators and freezers, must stay on. Furthermore, some equipment can be harmed by turning the power off, such as items “…that are connected to gas supplies and pressurized or under a specific atmosphere.”
Sometimes, the question is time or trouble. While asserting that most instruments can be turned off, Allison Paradise, executive director at mygreenlab.org, says, “Notable exceptions include those that require long or arduous start-up procedures.” These include high-performance liquid chromatography platforms and mass spectrometers. Still, says Paradise, “These can still be turned off if they aren’t being used for long periods of time.” But, she cautions, “It’s important to check with manufacturers before turning off equipment every day.”
It may be possible to turn off any equipment with a light or screen. Also, water baths or heat blocks may be turned off daily. “You would not turn off a water bath just because you are not using it for an hour,” says Fry, “but you can use a timer to turn it off at the end of the day and back on early enough to come up to temperature for the [next] day.” That is particularly true for a heat block, which is not as good at retaining heat as a water bath. Fry also notes, “Lots of labs turn off heat blocks at the end of the day, because it prolongs the life of the equipment.”
Equipment life may also play a role in whether to power on or off. While fewer operational hours can extend useful lifetimes, Fry notes, “I have seen researchers who are scared to turn off an old piece of equipment, because they are afraid it might not come back on.” Many organizations have sustainability officers/policies, and institutions that do often post program details online. These resources include, among other things, information about what equipment can be turned on and off and are readily available. Manufacturers can advise as to start-up and shut-down procedures and any advantages or drawbacks. If your facility already has sustainability policies and practices, they should be followed. If not, use these resources to develop a personal action plan or even to begin a sustainability program in your lab.
When you leave for the day, turn off the lights. And if the light is fading, keep an eye out for bats.