Project Clearinghouse

Energy efficiency and conservation in the Biology Teaching Laboratories

Sustainability Problem and Proposed Solution: 

The Biology Teaching Laboratories support laboratory classes offered by the MCD, EEB and METX departments, serving thousands of students annually. We propose to replace aging, energy inefficient freezer and refrigeration units with modern equivalents to achieve significant reductions in electricity use associate with lab classes, thus reducing the carbon footprint of teaching operations in Thimann Laboratories.

Jump to: Contact | Project Description | Funding Sources | Metrics for Success | Results
Project Categories: 
Buildings & Facilities
Energy & Climate
Project Status: 
In Progress
Project End Date: 
06/30/2019
(estimated)
Campus Organization: 
Carbon Fund
Sustainability Office
Affiliated Department, Unit or College: 
Physical and Biological Sciences
Project Location: 
On campus

Thimann Laboratories

1960s era deli-case refrigerator


Stakeholder Contacts: 
Contact NameEmail AddressContact NumberDepartment
Julio Harvey
jharvey@ucsc.edu
9-1657
PBSci
Sarah Gilchrist
sgilchri@ucsc.edu
9-2474
PBSCi
Funding Sources: 
Carbon Grant
UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Grant
Strategic Energy Partnership Loan Program

Project Description: 

Our strategy is to collaborate with Assistant Energy Manager Sara Gilchrist, Physical Plant Services (PPDO), to determine the most cost-effective and energy efficient replacement units, and reduce the number of inefficient units in service. We hope to replace four, highly inefficient domestic freezer/refrigerator combination units with three benchtop manual defrost -20C freezers and three single-door 4C deli-case style scientific refrigerators (Sustainability Grant Funded). Additionally, we have two old, inefficient double-door 4C refrigerators that should be replaced (Carbon Grant—this application).

This project actively engages all members of the Biology Teaching Labs community (students, staff and faculty) by allowing them to collectively use less energy in their work and degree programs, thereby promoting sustainability in learning.

This project promotes fair resource use by reducing the resources used by the university, thereby making more resources available to others and/or improving living conditions on earth by reducing UCSC’s carbon footprint.

This project promotes UCSC’s Principles of Community, including being Purposeful (being a participatory community and serving society through preservation of the natural environment), Caring (promoting mutual respect through environmental action in lowering energy use), and being Disciplined (advancing the common goal of better environmental stewardship through improved energy efficiency).

1) 1/1/2018–2/1/2019: Purchasing—Identify and order most efficient replacement units—COMPLETED
2) 2/1/2019–3/1/2019: Shipping and installation—allow lead time for availability—COMPLETED
3) 3/1/2019–5/1/2019: Recycling—remove old units from service and recycle—IN PROGRESS

Metrics for Success: 

Our partnership with Physical Planning Development & Operations - Physical Plant Services (PPDO) includes measurement of energy use by our aging equipment for comparison to energy use by the new equipment, quantifying the total reduction in energy use accomplished by this project. This is required under terms of the Strategic Energy Partnership Loan Program.

Next Steps: 
The portion of this project funded by the Carbon Fund Micro Grant is near completion—we have received two new double-door 4 C refrigerators to replace our old ones, one of these was purchased, in part, with Carbon Grant funding. These units are set to be installed (and the old ones recycled) after the end of this quarter (spring 2019). 3/1/2019–5/1/2019: Recycling—remove old units from service and recycle
Result Categories: 
Infrastructure/Built Environment
Technology
Results: 

This project will result in electrical resource savings equivalent to at least 2124.3 kWh year-1. This project will result in measurably greater energy efficiency for the Biology Teaching Laboratories at UCSC.

18 April 2019 Progress Report:

Funding for this project has helped purchase two new 50 cu ft replacement refrigerators with a combination of Carbon Micro Grant funds and Strategic Energy Partnership funding. Two new double-door 4 C refrigerators have been purchased (in part) with funding for this project, and delivered to Thimann Laboratories. These units will replace older, inefficient units that have been in service for over 20 years.

We are set to install these new units and recycle the old ones after the end of the academic year. It is not possible to complete installation while classes are in session because the old units are being actively used by staff and students. Once classes end, however, we will transfer supplies and reagents over to the new units and recycle the old ones.

31 May 2019—The new units have been installed and old ones recycled, this project is now complete!

Resources
Related Websites: 
New deli-case style refrigerators