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We recently got word our Chemistry department is interested in having some space optimization discussions!! I've been trying to worm my way in and offer resources, so I'm definitely following this post closely.

Hi Victoria,

Is the ACUPCC website helpful? They have records of hundreds of higher ed signatories and their climate actions, so we wouldn't want to reinvent their wheel. On the other hand, it doesn't reveal the backstory to having a CAP, and some anecdotes from this Green Labs community could be helpful. Give Second Nature a call and see if they have resources for your situation. If so, share it back here.

LIke many major initiatives, CAPs needs monitoring and accountability. Depending on leadership structure at your institution, faculty champions can be essential for enterprise level decision making and investments. Also, we often forget that deans have a lot of sway at the college level, and they can be institutional leaders as well.

Cheers, Allen

I'd love to stay looped into what you discover! And, any way I can help :)

We put a priorclave in one of our older buildings and im not sure how/why but the electrical system had to be completley redone for that room to accomidate the autoclave. Could have been an issue with somone accidently on our side not realizing the autoclave couldnt go in that building due to certian electrical issues.

While the autoclave worked well and was perfect for that space because we needed something that made it's own steam. Our researchers struggled so much with the door openings and using the cycle options. I would definitely look into their door and cycle settings. While there is a manual that explains what the symbols mean and how to open the door, our researcher never read it and reported the autoclave as broken multiple times because it was so hard to open and use. If you have a team of researchers willing to try something new and provide multiple training sessions they are able to better use the autoclave!! It was just an unexpected outcome that no one really predicted. It even took me a long time to fully understand how to open the door.

At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we use WattIQ system on all of our cold storage and temperature sensitive equipement. This system is a great live monitoring system that gives you all sorts of data (power consumption, door opening, energy saving, temperature...) and creates reports.

That's an awesome program, Tasha! For the past few years I have hosted a clothes and books swap event for students and employees during Earth Month, but I did a lab specific version of it to exchange lab supplies last October (Campus Sustaianability Month) which was popular. We also do tours of the waste infrastructure in out largest research building (including RMW and chemicals), and in the past we did a tour of the same building to showcase its LEED features. In the past we also organized a green products expo with our main vendor for lab supplies.

I believe Fiona Hogan from UVA wanted to learn more about this as well.

This is a great test poll. Thanks, Victoria!!!