Green Lab’s Freezer Inventory Project: Turning a ripple of change into a wave
The Freezer Inventory Project, launched in late 2023, aims to improve the efficiency of a major energy strain: ultra-low temperature freezers.
2 min. read
Stepping inside a research laboratory, on display are a few key types of equipment: microscopes, fume hoods, lab coats, and freezers. Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers regularly operate at temperatures around -80°C, preserving sensitive biological materials for research, and are massive energy strains. A single freezer consumes about 30 kilowatt-hours per day, roughly the same as an average American household. Multiplied by the 1,620 freezers located in labs across Penn’s campus, and the labs account for 37% of Penn’s carbon emissions—a bigger emitter than even offices, classrooms, and residence halls.
When Alisha Ramirez became the first full-time staff member of Penn’s Green Labs Program in 2023, ULT freezers were one of her top priorities. “Freezers are one of the most energy-intensive pieces of equipment,” Ramirez explains, “so making sure that [they] are running efficiently helps everyone.” Not only does freezer efficiency move Penn closer to its climate goals by lowering energy use, but it also ensures better protection of sensitive lab samples crucial for research. The challenge until recently, however, was that there was no comprehensive way to track these freezers and their condition. This changed with the launch of the Freezer Inventory Project.
The project, though simple in concept, is labor-intensive: It involves locating freezers across campus, assessing their condition, and recording observations in an online inventory system managed by EHRS. Behind the scenes, Ramirez has verified and uploaded the data for 825 freezers assessed thus far, setting the foundation for future sustainability projects.
This story is by Jasmine Simpson. Read more at Penn Climate.
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