Equipment Sharing
CU Boulder Biochemistry Shared Cell Culture Facility
Sharing has been most typical for very expensive equipment because those items are cost-prohibitive to purchase. However, large untapped potential for sharing exists in the mid to lower cost categories of equipment where there is a greater tendency for researchers to purchase their own items. This case study documents and demonstrates the significant efficiency and cost avoidance gains realized (30% less space, efficient use of equipment, efficient use of energy, efficient use of researcher time, etc.) by sharing cell culture equipment (BSCs, incubators, freezers, etc.) which fall in this less expensive cost category. The Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility (BCCF) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is a shared scientific resource utilized by 16 laboratory research groups. Studying the comparative costs to build and operate the BCCF shared-space versus a hypothetical scenario where 16 individual spaces are built to conduct cell culture enabled the calculation of avoided costs for campus scientists and CU Boulder made possible through streamlining in this shared facility. This case study also demonstrates many qualitative benefits to scientists which is leading to high-demand of this facility by researchers.
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Northwestern Univ. Multi-Campus Core Effort
Northwestern University has written this paper describing the key elements needed to "Build a Sustainable Portfolio of Core Facilities". The graphic at the right summarizes some key points of the paper. Core facilities are a pivotal part of the University’s research infrastructure, providing resources that allow groundbreaking science to happen. The Office for Research Core Facilities Administration provides financial support, administrative oversight, professional development, assessment and communication of shared research resources to advance the research mission of Northwestern University.
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CU Boulder ULT Freezer Sharing Program
The goal of the Shared ULT Freezer Program is to establish efficiently utilized, shared ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers around the CU Boulder campus. Scientists are able to rent space in an ULT freezer instead of purchasing an entire freezer for their lab. By developing a model where ULT freezers can be shared between several different labs, this promotes equipment sharing on our campus, reduces laboratory plug loads, encourages more efficient use of freezer space, and contributes to the sustainability culture of the CU Boulder campus.
Georgia Research Alliance
UT System Core Sharing NetworkThe UT System Core Facilities Network offers quick and secure access to the tremendous research products, services and expertise found throughout all of our Institutional Shared Resources.
Check out the list of partners here. Gulf Coast Consortia - Shared Equipment and CoresGCC has acquired major equipment for shared use, available to Texas Medical Center researchers, thanks to the generosity, commitment and vision of philanthropic donors such as the John S. Dunn Foundation. Additionally, GCC member institutions have each designated shared core facilities within their own institutions (via a GCC inter-institutional memorandum of understanding), providing a large array of equipment available to GCC researchers at internal rates.
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UCSB Shared Instrumentation Program
This website was created in collaboration with the UC Santa Barbara Office of Research and campus Sustainability Office, with additional support from the Materials Research Laboratory. It is intended to bridge all departments on campus, and provide resources for interdisciplinary collaboration both on and off campus.
CU Boulder BioCore Facility
The purpose of the BioCore is to connect researchers from various departments to research resources available on the CU Boulder campus in order to optimize use of existing laboratory equipment resources to benefit avoided costs and improved scientist access to research equipment. This report highlights the various measured benefits from the establishment of the BioCore within its first year of operation at CU Boulder. This 2.5 minute video describes well the BioCore and its positive impact to grow scientist access to equipment and even save research space.
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Space Utilization
Rightsizing Lab Space Allocation
This interactive article by EAB helps leaders establish procedures for optimizing initial lab space allocations to align with immediate PI needs and fine-tuning allocations over time based on research productivity metrics. This report explores ways to address the "mismatch between PI lab allocations and actual space needs."
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Law Library Transformed into Modern Science Labs
For its successful efforts in transforming an outdated law library into a vibrant, modern science building, Lab Manager has awarded EYP, the design architect/lab planner for the University of South Carolina’s Science & Technology Building, with Special Mention for Adaptive Reuse in its 2021 Lab Design Excellence Awards. EYP worked on the project in conjunction with WTS, the architect of record.
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Energy and Water Conservation
UC Irvine: Developing an Integrated Smart Lab Program
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Science and Technology Facility, Golden, Colorado
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has added a light-filled, energy-efficient new research facility to its campus in Golden, Colorado. Completed in August 2006, NREL’s 71,347-ft2 Science and Technology Facility (S&TF) houses nine laboratories for advanced materials synthesis, analysis, characterization, and support, as well as a 10,170-ft2 process development and integration laboratory (PDIL).
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Stanford Plug Load Inventory
Within Stanford’s large and diverse building portfolio, there are tens of thousands of pieces of equipment plugged into wall outlets. Many suspected the aggregate plug load from this equipment would represent a substantial component of electricity demand on campus. To better quantify electricity consumption and prioritize savings opportunities, Stanford launched an equipment inventory to collect data on plug loads across the Stanford campus.
An article summarizing the project and its results was recently published in Energy Efficiency. |
Market Assessment of Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Laboratories
The first comprehensive study of laboratory plug loads by CEEL - a program of My Green Labs, this report shows that plug loads from just 12 different pieces of lab equipment in California consume an estimated 1-3 TWh/year. The findings from this study were extrapolated to the wider United States.
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Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers: Opening the Door to Energy Savings in Laboratories
Several models of ULT freezers were tested for energy consumption and performance in a controlled environment setting and in the field. The results of this study were used to establish an ENERGY STAR standard for ULT freezers. This report also includes information on the affect of ULT freezers on HVAC systems and a comprehensive market analysis.
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Harvard Fume Hood Strategy
Chemical fume hoods are one of the most energy intensive aspects of laboratory operation. Laboratories at Harvard University account for 22% of space, but are responsible for 44% of energy consumption. According to a report from Louis Stokes Laboratories, 44% of the energy used in labs are directly related to ventilation. Harvard’s Shut the Sash Program was created to reduce energy and save utility costs in line with its aggressive climate goals, while also facilitating a safe and sustainable culture in the laboratories. Read the whole white paper here.
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