By Scott Masiella, Director of Product Management, Stirling Ultracold
When purchasing lab grade refrigerators, freezers or ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, many organizations only focus on the initial purchase price to meet capital equipment budgets. While this is important, it’s best to consider the other associated costs and environmental effects of owning this type of equipment. Upgrading to newer, energy-efficient models may cost more initially, yet can offer unrealized operational savings and lower a lab’s climate impact. This article will discuss how to collaborate with three key departments and stakeholders to appease budgets and reach company-wide or department-specific sustainability objectives.
Seek Out the Expertise of Facilities and Maintenance
While often behind-the-scenes, facilities or maintenance managers will be well-aware of the immense power consumed by lab cold storage equipment, particularly ULT freezers. Researching and compiling suppliers that are ENERGY STAR®-certified and have high ratings on energystar.gov will help your facilities team see daily energy consumption and calculate the savings based on local electric utility costs. These energy-efficient models will require less backup power in case of an outage and use less AC load. Choosing suppliers that have flexible voltage inputs can also save on potential costly electrical outlet conversions.
Lab grade freezers and ULT freezers generate a great deal of heat to continuously maintain the cold and deep-frozen temperatures. This release of large amounts of heat forces buildings’ HVAC systems to run harder to sustain a comfortable room temperature. Selecting suppliers that are Energy Star-certified will also decrease the amount of heat rejected, lower energy bills and lessen a lab’s carbon footprint.
It’s important to compare a freezer’s interior and exterior dimensions, and how many boxes can be stored in the cabinet. Opting for freezers that are compact and maximize the interior cabinet will make the best use of the lab’s valuable floor space. Investing in high-density storage racks and boxes with 100 count dividers will also boost capacity in the cabinet. This can cut down on the number of freezers needed and opens extra floor space for other purposes, which can further trim operating costs.
Get Acquainted with Organizational Targets from the Sustainability Director
A sustainability director is a great resource and an essential ally for the steps required to pare down the carbon footprint of a lab’s cold storage equipment. Many Energy Star-certified refrigerators, freezers and ULT freezers now use natural refrigerants that have minimal or low global warming potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP) compared to traditional F-Gases. The director can also help research and determine suppliers who use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)-certified foam insulation in the interior cabinet, which is ozone-safe and contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Selecting suppliers that have recyclable or reusable packaging will help diminish the amount of refuse sent to the landfill, while also helping to meet organizational waste diversion goals.
To optimize the efficiency and sustainability of refrigerators, freezers and ULT freezers, consider participating in the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and My Green Lab’s International Laboratory Freezer Challenge on a yearly basis. By implementing the Freezer Challenge’s cold storage best practices, labs will save energy, lessen environmental ramifications, maximize space, improve sample accessibility and lower operating costs.
Look at the Big Picture with Purchasing and Finance
While most organizations have specific budget limitations on capital equipment purchases, providing the evidence that the purchase price isn’t the only factor to consider will be essential. Share the details on how higher-efficiency models that reduce energy use, operating costs and support organizational sustainability goals, will save money in the long term. Additionally, some Energy Star-certified ULT freezers may qualify for local utility energy rebates, ranging from $1000-$1,500 per unit. These additional savings could be used in other departments to support new research projects.
Capitalize the Return on Investment of Cold Storage Equipment
Laboratory grade refrigerators, freezers and ULT freezers are a critical part of life science research. With this equipment running 24/7, 365 days a year and in thousands of labs across the globe, the operating costs and climate impacts of these units are massive. Taking steps to determine the total cost of ownership of cold storage equipment, while also demonstrating the benefits of upgrading to newer, high-efficiency models will win buy-in, fulfill budget limitations and reduce climate impact to meet sustainability goals. These actions could inspire other departments to follow suit. Just think - the return on investment and positive contributions to any organization and the world will be greater than ever imagined.
About the Author: Scott Masiella, Director of Product Management at Stirling Ultracold, part of Biolife Solutions, has extensive experience in engineering, market segmentation and produt management. In his three years at Stirling Ultracold, Masiella has used his knowledge of ultra-low temperature storage to work on continuous freezer improvement initiatives. He has previous experience working at General Electric (GE) and, most recently, Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he worked in the chemical analysis division as the Senior Global Market Segment Manager.