1. Sustainable Laboratory Design: Challenges and Solutions
Stephen P. Mead, Ph.D.
College of Engineering
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona USA
Phone:
Good Afternoon: The purpose of this presentation is to provide a general overview of Laboratories for the 21st Century or “Labs21,” a new, voluntary effort being developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to showcase some of the strategies we are using in a new laboratory building we are developing at my institution Northern Arizona University.

2. The Modern Laboratory Building

3. Laboratory Sustainability Challenges
Laboratory spaces use 5 –10 times more energy per square foot than the typical office building.
Significant Plug/Process Loads:
20–100 watts/sf
Bio-Safety / Ventilation Requirements
Toxic waste
Prodigious Water Use
While there are many programs that address energy efficiency in buildings, there is no program that focuses exclusively on laboratory energy use. This is significant because laboratories are highly-specialized environments with unique energy and water demands. EPA’s own experience suggests that the typical laboratory uses at least 5 times as much energy and water per square foot as the typical office building due to intensive ventilation requirements and other health and safety concerns. But there are other unique and specialized situations which can create larger power and water resource demands.
EPA believes that reducing energy use in laboratories will result in significant environmental benefits. If 50 percent of all U.S. labs reduce energy by 30 percent, the U.S. would reduce electricity consumption by 84 trillion Btus. This would save enough electricity to power 2.1 million U.S. households. It would also reduce CO2 emissions by 19 million tons, saving approximately $1.25 billion annually. Representing only one-tenth of one percent of the U.S. commercial office space, the energy cost savings possible from U.S. labs may be $5 billion annually.

4. Government initiative to improve the environmental performance of U. S
Government initiative to improve the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories.
Improving energy and water efficiency, encouraging renewable energy sources, and promoting environmental stewardship in laboratories.
Three components:
Partnership program
Training
Tool kit
The goal of Labs21 is to improve the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories.
Labs21 is designed to improve energy and water efficiency, encourage the use of renewable energy sources, and promote environmental stewardship among our nation’s public and private sector laboratories.
The initiative is comprised of three components. These are a partnership program, opportunities for education and training, and a tool kit of resources for laboratory design and operations. I will discuss each of these in a moment.

5. Labs 21 Approach Adopt voluntary goals.
Assess opportunities from a “whole buildings” approach.
Use life-cycle cost analysis as an important decision-making tool.
Incorporate a comprehensive, whole building commissioning process into new construction and retrofit projects.
Employ a range of energy and water efficiency strategies.
Read through each of the Labs21 basic principles.

6. Labs 21 Approach (cont’d)
Measure energy and water consumption and track emission reductions.
Evaluate on-site power generation, combined heat and power technologies, and renewable power purchases.
Build with “green” construction materials.
Promote energy and water efficiency efforts.
Continue to read through each of the Labs21 basic principles.

7. Applied Research and Development Facility (ARD)
LABS 21 Pilot Project
Create Plug and Play Research Space
Promote collaboration between disciplines.
Create new technologies and incubate new businesses
Attain LEED Platinum Designation

8. Moving Toward Sustainability: Some Specific Solutions
Efficient HVAC distribution systems
Right Size Equipment
Day lighting
Adopting the Labs21 Approach involves taking an initial evaluation of a laboratory’s energy use from a comprehensive perspective. This requires focusing on all of a laboratory’s energy systems and wastes, including its HVAC and electrical power supply, rather than focusing on specific energy-using components.
The Labs21 Approach allows laboratory owners and operators to pursue integrated energy and water conservation measures with significantly higher efficiencies and cost savings than the traditional approach of addressing components sequentially or individually.
Adopting the Labs21 Approach will require capital investment decisions based on life-cycle cost savings. This will allow for an increased use of advanced, energy efficient, system-based solutions that recover and exchange waste heat and other forms of free energy. It will also encourage the use of renewable energy and renewable energy systems.
The resulting facilities will reduce emissions, streamline energy and water usage, and decrease overall costs—all while preserving the integrity of the laboratory’s mission.

9. High Performance Fume Hoods
More than 500,000 fume hoods in U.S.
Push / Pull Design uses 50% less energy
Annual Energy Savings: $2100

10. Phyto-Remediation
“Living Machine”

11. Biomass Energy Fuel Source: Small Diameter Ponderosa Pine
Cogeneration: Steam & Electricity
Meets LEED Requirements for renewable energy

12. Creating Feedback Loops
Whole Building Commissioning
Data Collection / Visualization

13. Questions?