We’re all looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption nowadays and laboratory owners are no exception. Saving energy in the lab can reduce overall costs and negative environmental impacts at the same time.
Medical laboratories use a lot of energy to complete their daily operations. Whether it’s keeping fridges and freezers at sub-zero temperatures or heating cell samples using large incubators, there is an endless stream of energy required for even the smallest labs.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things that laboratory owners can do to lower their energy consumption and save on the bills.
Use Energy-Efficient Equipment
There is a lot of equipment that labs use every single day so it’s not possible to turn them off. Similarly, there are certain pieces of equipment that must be left on 24/7, such as incubators that are housing live cell cultures.
Switching over to equipment that uses less energy to operate on a day-to-day basis. There are lots of energy-efficient alternatives to traditional laboratory equipment.
For example, hydrocarbon refrigerants have a high latent heat of evaporation, which provides a more energy-efficient cooling method.
Another great way to optimize the energy efficiency of your lab is to buy larger equipment. For example, getting large water baths and incubators means you can store more samples without consuming a lot of energy operating multiple smaller heating devices.
Turn Off Equipment When it is Not Being Used
Labs consume an average plug load of 2-20 watts per square foot, which is much higher than the average plug load of a home or office.
A simple but extremely effective way to save energy in your lab is to turn off equipment when it’s not in use. Even if your machinery is not been actively used, it is still consuming energy if it is plugged in and turned on.
It may not be possible to switch off every electronic equipment when it’s not in use. But for anything that can be easily turned off when it’s idle, you can cut your energy consumption significantly by doing so.
Wait Until Autoclaves Are Full to Use Them
An autoclave is a sterilization device. It is used to sterilize various pieces of lab equipment so that they can be reused again in the future without the risk of sample contamination.
Running a single autoclave cycle consumes a lot of energy, especially if it’s an older model that is not as energy-efficient. On average, an autoclave consumes around 80 to 84 kWh per day, even if it’s not running any cycles.
Putting your autoclave on when it is only half full can increase your energy wastage. If possible, wait until your autoclave is full before you run a cycle.
If you only tend to use a very limited amount of equipment each day, allow it to accumulate over the course of the week before sterilization. When you are not using the autoclave, turn it off and unplug it if possible.