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A new internal study shows that academic labs affiliated with �պ����� could collectively save 13,523 kWh/year through preventative maintenance of freezers, or about $280 per freezer annually. 

The study was funded by �պ�����’s Sustainable Campus Fund and completed by �պ�����’s Instrumentation and Technical Services (ITS) Department.  

“One of the key goals in our Comprehensive Sustainability Plan is to increase energy efficiency in laboratory buildings,” said Elizabeth Palchak, director of sustainability at �պ�����. “This is an ideal collaboration between lab directors and ITS to develop a protocol that will reduce energy usage and save money.” 

The university has nearly 1000 freezer units spread across campus, including the �պ����� Medical Center and other off-campus labs. ITS developed a data gathering strategy by selecting 33 freezers of different ages and in different buildings on the main �պ����� campus to monitor energy use with a Kill A Watt® meter.  

“We worked closely with lab directors who allowed us to install the meters and take temperature readings,” said Michael Lane, director of ITS. “Results show that preventive maintenance not only improves energy efficiency, but also improves the performance of the freezer.” 

 Recommendations include: 

• Standardization of new freezers as they are purchased to replace aging, inefficient units. According to the research criteria, about 396 of �պ�����’s ~1000 freezers have been identified for replacement; 
• Establish incentives for labs to replace outdated and inefficient refrigerators and freezers;
• Conduct routine maintenance including cleaning dust from compressors and inspecting seals (freezers with frost buildup often result in cracking or displacement of the seals); 
• Provide backup units for specimen replacements during defrosting or for unexpected failures; 
• Reduce the temperature of -80°C freezers to -70°C, as the lower temperature preserves lab samples just as well. 

“As freezers get older, they struggle to maintain the target of -20°C after about 15 years,” said Timothy Agan, a biomedical equipment technician and ITS supervisor.  “We advise replacement of freezers as they approach the 15-year-old benchmark, or when they begin to struggle to maintain a consistent temperature.” 

Agan says manufacturers generally recommend freezers maintain a minimum of 80% capacity for optimized energy efficiency. The research found that lab samples in some �պ����� freezers were well below that volume. In one test, adding Styrofoam blocks to a partially empty freezer resulted in an estimated 60.32 KWH/year in savings. 

“To realize potential cost savings, we’re encouraging encourage researchers to work together to fill freezers to 80% capacity rather than spreading their contents through multiple half-full freezers,” he said.  

Student and technician roles 

The study was funded in 2018 and the work began shortly after with student researchers, but COVID interrupted the project.  

Student David Fournier ’24 completed an internship his junior year, picking up the threads of his predecessors and updating procedures to the data collection process. The experience led to his being hired by ITS after his graduation this spring. 

A biomedical engineering major with a minor in computer science, Fournier said he was always interested in medical devices. The internship gave him insights into the big picture—how his technical knowledge could be applied to real-world situations and solve large scale problems.  

“I thought it was cool to see how impactful my work could be in helping �պ����� save energy,” he said. “Getting that hands-on experience also helped me understand what a clinical engineer does. I think that all added up to me getting a job offer last spring.”  

Bella Butzirus is a former lab manager at �պ����� turned Sustainable Innovation MBA student who worked with the Office of Sustainability as the Green Labs Intern in Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) this summer. “The SSL model allows for data gathering and research to be done by students who then gain real-world experience and contribute to more efficient campus operations,” explains Palchak.

Butzirus was tasked with investigating ways to expand the success of the freezer project. She researched various certifications and programs with additional tactics like increasing the efficiency of fume hoods and recycling of lab supplies.  

Many passionate faculty, staff and students have had success in greening the labs they’re part of and there are some great programs in place like nitrile glove recycling. Butzirus suggested ways to formalize and enhancing these efforts and her work on this topic will be continued by other students in the SSL now that she has graduated.