The Elephant in the Room: A Nationwide Study on Laboratory Plug Loads

as well as the highest density of biotech and pharmaceutical companies Ernst & Young Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and California has the most research universities in the country laboratories are the largest consumers of energy at research universities S-Labs, CHESC

why are labs so energy-intensive? labs contain many pieces of energy-intensive equipment that generally operate 24/7

but… little is known or communicated by vendors by end-users, or by utility companies about energy consumption of laboratory equipment market size unknown

and architects scientists facility end-users energy managers

in other words designs lab space energy managers purchases equipment pays utility bills vendors

an existing model: Food Service Technology Center utility support FSTC market research industry stakeholder engagement & outreach training audits 3 rd party equipment testing & certification deemed rebates & customized incentive support

the proposed model: Center for Energy Efficient Labs utility support CEEL market research training audits 3 rd party equipment testing & certification deemed rebates & customized incentive support industry stakeholder engagement & outreach

Center for Energy Efficient Labs (CEEL) industry stakeholder engagement, outreach, training 3 rd party equipment testing, outreach, training consulting: audits, measure development & implementation, training, deemed measure workpapers

phase I: market assessment

the CEEL market assessment sought to: define and characterize laboratory spaces estimate the quantity and usage of common laboratory plug loads identify potential opportunities for energy efficiency in labs understand stakeholder attitudes about energy efficiency

methods: definitions lab: any space equipped to conduct experiments, tests, investigations, etc or to manufacture chemicals, medicines or the like academic lab: lab residing in higher-education facilities life science research lab: lab located in a biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical device company in which research is conducted hospital lab: research space and diagnostic area within a hospital or facility owned by a hospital

data collection laboratory square footage was gathered or calculated for: 171 academic institutions 1351 life science research organizations 532 hospitals in California

data collection online surveys were completed by: 1199 scientists in the US; 269 in CA 78 facility and energy managers in the US; 19 in CA in-person interviews were done with: 371 scientists in the US 14 facility managers in CA

data collection questions were asked about 32 pieces of laboratory equipment across 7 product categories: refrigeration fume hoods microscopes benchtop equipment large laboratory equipment hospital equipment equipment rooms

respondent information

results

results: square footage of lab space Market SegmentEstimated Lab Space in CA (sq ft) Academia37 million LSR68 million Hospitals8 million Non-Profits3 million Total116 million estimated lab space in the US: 1.2 billion sq ft

calculations total sq ft of lab space / avg sq ft per lab = total # of labs

results: estimated number of labs estimated number of labs in the US: 200,000

results: equipment estimates

calculations: example with freezers avg # of freezers per lab * total # of labs = total # of freezers in labs total # of freezers in labs * energy consumption of freezers = total freezer energy consumption

results: equipment estimates

results: energy estimates

results: energy consumption

enough info to address now requires further investigation

now we know… - there are a lot of labs - they have a lot of equipment - that equipment uses a lot of energy

but do scientists care?

results: attitudes about energy efficiency

results: attitudes about sustainability

results: attitudes about energy efficiency

what are the implications of these results for scientists, manufacturers, consultants, & designers? discussion

discussion: manufacturers there is a desire, and a need, for energy-efficient products

discussion: designers there is a need to design lab spaces for realistic plug loads

discussion: consultants plug loads cannot be ignored

discussion: scientists there is an opportunity for behavioral change

phase II and future directions

enough info to address now requires further investigation phase II and future directions

phase II: opportunities addressing refrigeration : ULT freezers

phase II: ULT freezers partners: CA utility companies EPA ULT freezer manufacturers

phase II: ULT freezers goals: 3 rd party, independent testing of ULT freezer energy consumption plug load and HVAC interactions

phase II: opportunities outreach & education working with manufacturers other laboratory refrigeration

the CEEL: future directions

Pacific Gas & Electric San Diego Gas & Electric Southern California Edison FNI kW Engineering special thanks

Thank you!

Questions?