Green Labs Companion Document

Green Labs Companion Document

Use this document to find additional information for actions on the Green Labs Checklist.

Table of Contents

Participation ………………………. 2

Waste handling…………………… 3

Energy…………………………………. 7

Chemicals……………………………. 12

Water………………………………….. 14

Meetings…………………………….. 16

Field Work…………………………… 17

Miscellaneous…………………….. 18

Innovation…………………………… 21

What’s our lab’s commitment?

Participation (4)

  1. Our lab members have been informed and have agreed to follow the applicable actions on this checklist.

This action ensures that everyone working in the lab is informed and has made a commitment to participate in the program.

  1. We share information about our Green Labs Certification with all new students and employees, and encourage them to get involved.

This action ensures that new staff, faculty or students know about the lab’s commitment to sustainability and how they can contribute.

  1. We discuss sustainability and the progress of our Green Labs Certification at staff meetings.

Sustainability can be a moving target, so regularly discussing the progress of Green Labs Certification and completion of the actions (or new actions) ensures ongoing success of the program and continuous commitment to reducing the environmental impacts of the lab.

  1. We give priority to safe practices.

It is important to first give priority to safety above all else. If using green alternatives, ensure that they are removed of safely, are less hazardous, and are used at the lowest concentration required.

What sustainable actions will we adopt?

Waste Handling (8)

UAlberta has had a formal recycling program since 1975, and is currently pursuing its goal to divert 50% of campus waste from the landfill by 2015. Waste that is not recycled or composted is sent to landfills or incinerators. Landfills release greenhouse gases and pollute groundwater, while incinerators use energy and release toxic emissions[1]. Ensuring that steps are taken to divert waste from landfill and incinerators helps the university reach its waste diversion goal and reduces negative environmental impacts.

As a lab, we...

  1. Have assessed whether or not proper recycling bins are present, and have contacted our Facility Services Manager to address gaps.

Since labs have the potential to generate large volumes of waste, it’s important to have appropriate recycling bins available to divert that waste from landfill or incinerators. If bins are not present, it’s less likely that people will be inclined to recycle.

In addition to standard recycle streams (glass, light metals, plastic, paper/cardboard),recycling programs are also in place at the university for the following items:

●Electronics - computers, printers, parts, cabling

●Surplus University of Alberta furniture and equipment

●Ink and toner cartridges

●Batteries

Collection programs can be set up through your Facility Services Manager.

Additionally, all Grand & Toy account holders have access to their ink and toner recycling program. Simply gather your empty ink and toner cartridges, package them up, label them as, “Recycle”, put them beside the recycle containers in your office, and Buildings and Grounds staff will collect them. For tips on recycling specific lab materials, see the next actions.

  1. Recycle any cleaned glass that is not contaminated with chemicals or biological hazards.

According to Environment, Health & Safety(EHS) at UAlberta, a biohazard is defined as any biological material that is capable of causing an adverse pathological effect in a human or animal. This definition includes living microbes such as bacteria and viruses, and non-living materials, such as allergens and biological toxins.

Glass coming out of laboratories that works with chemicals must be cleaned (i.e., residual chemical material must be neutralized and cleaned off the glass) before it can be placed in a recycling bin.

Glass coming out of laboratories that work with biological material must be both decontaminated (i.e., either autoclaved or treated with a chemical decontaminant) and cleaned (i.e., residual biological material must be cleaned off the glass) before it can be placed in a recycling bin. If glass is decontaminated but not cleaned, the residual biological material may become a medium for the growth of new microbes if the recycling bin is not emptied immediately. Also, staff recycling the bin may view the unclean glass as a biohazard and will dispose of it as if it were biological waste.

Under no circumstance is glass used with radioisotope hazards to enter the recycle stream.

To safely dispose of glass:

1.If glass can be decontaminated and cleaned of chemical and biological material, it may be placed in a recycle bin.

2.If glass cannot be decontaminated, it must be packaged in a yellow plastic pail sealed with a lid and turned over to EHS for incineration.

3.If glass can be decontaminated but not cleaned of biological material, it cannot be recycled and must be properly packaged for disposal via the regular waste stream (i.e., waste bin)[2].

  1. Recycle paper and flattened cardboard.

Flatten cardboard before recycling because it allows for more cardboard to be placed in the bin before it needs to be emptied.

  1. Recycle (or reuse whenever possible) plastic that has not been contaminated with chemicals or biological hazards.

According to Environment, Health & Safety(EHS) at UAlberta, a biohazard is defined as any biological material that is capable of causing an adverse pathological effect in a human or animal. This definition includes living microbes such as bacteria and viruses, and non-living materials, such as allergens and biological toxins.

Plastic coming out of laboratories that works with chemicals must be cleaned (i.e., residual chemical material must be neutralized and cleaned off the glass) before it can be placed in a brown recycling bin.

Plastic coming out of laboratories that work with biological material must be both decontaminated (i.e., either autoclaved or treated with a chemical decontaminant) and cleaned (i.e., residual biological material must be cleaned off the plastic) before it can be placed in a recycling bin. If plastic is decontaminated but not cleaned, the residual biological material may become a medium for the growth of new microbes if the recycling bin is not emptied immediately. Also, staff recycling the bin may view the unclean plastic as a biohazard and will dispose of it as if it were biological waste.

Under no circumstance is plastic used with radioisotope hazards to enter the recycle stream.

To safely dispose of plastic:

1.If plastic can be decontaminated and cleaned of chemical and biological material, it may be placed in a brown recycling bin.

2.If plastic cannot be decontaminated, it must be packaged in a yellow plastic pail sealed with a lid and turned over to EHS for incineration.

3.If plastic can be decontaminated but not cleaned of biological material, it cannot be recycled and must be properly packaged for disposal via the regular waste stream (i.e., waste bin)[3].

  1. Have contacted our Facility Service Manager to set up a battery collection program.

A battery collection program diverts this waste form the landfill. Improperly disposed of batteries can release chemicals (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc) that can potentially leach into the groundwater and pollute the soil.

  1. Arrange for Supply Management Services to pick up and recycle/properly dispose of electronic equipment, lab equipment, and/or furnishings that areuniversity property.

When dealing with surplus university equipment, contact SMS’ Surplus Assets Coordinator at 780-492-5393 before the property is sold, discarded, or transferred. This service will ensure that items are disposed of correctly while keeping environmental protection in mind.Laboratory equipment used with hazardous materials will not be picked up by SMS unless the cleaning of the equipment has been documented with anEquipment Decontamination Form.

  1. Take your personal electronic equipment to get recycled. They can be recycled at the following locations:

○City of Edmonton E-Waste (Electronics) Recycling

○Electronic Recycling Association, Edmonton location

○Shanked Computer Recycling Inc.(local recycling company)

Periodically throughout the year, there are recycling drives for personal electronic equipment. Sign up for the Office of Sustainability’s newsletter to stay informed about this.

Energy (16)

Although UAlberta produces approximately 30% of its electricity using natural gas (which burns ‘cleaner’ than coal) through its district energy system, it still purchases a significant portion of electricity that is generated from burning coal. The majority of energy produced in Alberta is generated through coal combustion, which releases greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxides, and heavy metals into the air. These substances can cause environmental issues, such as climate change, acid rain, and soil acidification[4].

UAlberta labs on North Campus take up about 30% of the space, yet they utilize about 50% of the campus’ energy requirements. The following 13 actions promote energy conservation, and directly reduce the environmental and health impacts that result from natural gas and coal combustion.

In our lab, we...

  1. Have a regular cleanup and defrosting schedule for the fridge and freezer.

Refrigerators and freezers in labs are significant users of energy. When an ice layer builds up and covers the coils, the compressor needs to run longer to maintain the cold temperatures[5]. If frost and ice levels build up to more than a ¼ inch thick before regularly scheduled cleanup and defrosting, then the freezer should be defrosted.

Regularly cleaning and defrosting your fridge and freezer will improve efficiency and may extend the life of the equipment, which will save money and energy over time.

  1. Adjust temperature settings on freezers, heating ovens, and other thermal equipment to meet the appropriate needs per task.

Ensuring that appropriate temperatures are set on equipment based on the requirements of the task is a simple way to prevent excess energy from being used. It’s also important to turn off equipment when it’s no longer needed.

  1. Do not use chilling incubators as refrigerators.

Chilling incubators use 5-10 times more energy than refrigerators to maintain a narrow temperature range, even if they are set at temperatures near room temperature[6]. Avoiding storing chilled materials in these incubators for long periods of time can therefore increase the efficiency of your chilling incubator and save energy.

  1. Turn off ovens and chilled centrifuges when not in use.

Turning off ovens and chilled centrifuges when they are not in use saves energy.

  1. Dispose of old samples in our freezer(s) and refrigerator(s) when no longer needed.

More energy is required to maintain cool temperatures in refrigerators and freezers that are closer to maximum capacity. Eliminating old samples that are no longer needed reduces the stress placed on the refrigerator/freezer to maintain a certain temperature, and improves the energy efficiency of the device. Ensure that samples are disposed of properly to neutralize any associated biological or chemical hazards.

  1. Identified equipment that does not need to be left on. We turn it off, unplug it, or have installed and use appliance timers on these equipment pieces.

Identifying which equipment pieces do not need to be left on and shutting them off is a very simple way to conserve energy, and potentially other resources as well. For example, turning off water baths when they are not in use saves energy as it is not needed to heat the water. It also takes energy to treat and transport water, so turning off the water bath reduces evaporation and further reduces water and energy requirements.

Standby power (or phantom power) accounts for about 5-10% of home electricity use. This adds up to approximately 5.4 billion kWh across Canada, which can be translated into over three million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent[7]. Reducing standby power by unplugging equipment that is not being used reduces the energy demands of your lab and can improve the sustainability performance of your lab.

You can also take steps to ensure that you avoid using standby power while you’re away on holidays or extended leaves. Go through your lab before leaving to ensure all unnecessary equipment is unplugged.

Additionally, installing programmable timers that automatically turn appliances on or off can be another simple way to conserve energy in your lab, especially if equipment needs to be left on for a certain time, or needs time to warm up before use.

  1. Have successfully implemented a UAlberta Shut the Sash Campaign.

An open fume hood can use as much energy as 3.5 single family homes and can contribute at least 14.5 tonnesof CO2emissions[8]. When a fume hood sash is left open, more energy is required to run the fans that ventilate the fume hood. Additionally, an open fume hood disrupts the pressure and temperature in the room, thereby adding more stress to the building’s heating and ventilation system as it tries to compensate for this. Environment, Health & Safety also recommends shutting fume hoods for safety.

Labs that have variable volume fume hoods qualify to participate in this campaign. These kinds of fume hoods can control the air velocity in fume hoods. The older style fume hoods, called bypass hoods, cannot control air flow the same way as the variable volume fume hoods. Please contact the Office of Sustainability to see if your lab qualifies.

  1. Operate fume hoods for experiments only, not for storage.

Using fume hoods for storage purposes means that more energy is required to properly ventilate the area. Additionally, Environment, Health & Safety at UAlberta recommends that fume hoods are kept clean and uncluttered. Apparatus and chemicals typically should be kept in the fume hood only if they are a component of the operation for which the hood is being used. Fume hoods should not be used for long term storage of chemicals or apparatus.[9]

  1. Ensure that the fume hood is certified and working properly.

If unsure whether or not the hood has been maintained properly and/or is functioning properly, contact your Facility Services Manager before using it. A fume hood that is not performing properly has the potential to be more dangerous than not using a fume hood at all.[10]

  1. Use rechargeable batteries for frequently used devices.

Using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries reduces the amount of waste generated. Although they tend to be more expensive upfront, these batteries can be recharged and used multiple times.

  1. Switch off any unnecessary lights (e.g., take advantage of natural light, only use task lighting if alone in the lab).

Turning off lights that are not needed is a simple way to reduce energy consumption. Look for alternatives to switching on room lights, such as taking advantage of natural light (if applicable) or using small task lights and desk lamps instead.

  1. Set all computer devices to energy saver settings, and turn off devices when not in use.

A typical desktop computer uses between 60-250 watts and a typical laptop computer uses between 15-45 watts; however when they are on sleep/standby power, both of the types of devices only use between 1-6 watts[11]. Taking advantage of the energy saver settings on your computing device and turning it to sleep or off when not in use is a simple way to reduce energy use in your lab.

A common misconception is that it takes more energy to turn your computer on than it does to leave it on and use it. It actually takes no more energy to turn your computer back on than it does to run it; similarly, it does not wear out your computer hardware by turning it on and off multiple times throughout the day[12]. For more information about green computing practices, please see this link.

  1. Upgrade older equipment for newer energy efficient versions when possible.

If you need to replace equipment, take some time to investigate more energy-efficient options that will decrease the environmental impacts of your lab. Contact your Fisher Scientific representative for advice.

  1. Repair existing equipment rather than purchasing new equipment, when appropriate.

In some cases you may be able to repair equipment rather than purchasing new equipment – this decreases the demand for new products and reduces waste that could potentially go to landfill. When purchasing equipment, consider buying equipment that is durable and has parts that are replaceable.

  1. Take into account energy efficiency when purchasing new lab equipment.

If you need to replace equipment, investigate energy-efficient options that will decrease the environmental impacts of your lab. Contact your Fisher Scientific representative for advice.

  1. Ensure regular maintenance of machines and equipment.

Ensuring regular maintenance of machines and equipment extends the usable lifespan of these pieces and ensures that they run efficiently.

Chemicals (6)

As a lab, we...

  1. Reduce and reuse chemical supplies, and only purchase what we need.

To reduce and reuse chemical supplies, you can access Environment, Health & Safety’s Chemical Exchange (Recycle) Service.