Issue 11 – January/February 2010

In This Issue:

• Call to Action: Push for Sustainability in Science
  Park Legislation
• Labs21 Conference Updates
  • 2009 Conference Audio Recordings Now Available
• Training Tidbits
• Around the Industry
• I²SL's Spotlight On...
• I²SL's E-Library
• Ask Your Lab Question
• News You Can Use
  • Student Design Competition Focuses on Sustainable Laboratory in USVI
• Upcoming Industry Events
• Coming Next Issue...

Greetings!

In the last few weeks, two bills began picking up steam in the U.S. House and Senate: the Science Parks Research and Innovative New Technologies Act (H. 4413) and the Building a Stronger America Act (S. 583), respectively. Both bills intend to provide much-needed grants and loans for the development and construction of science and research parks, but they're missing the necessary financial commitments to facilitate energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable growth, or, in other words, the ability to implement the Labs21 Approach. 

We need your help! As a strong supporter of Labs21, I highly encourage you and your colleagues to do your part in making sustainable research parks a reality by writing to your representative or senator and telling him or her to include Labs21 in H. 4413 and S. 583. We've drafted sample letters for you to use.

I also encourage you to read about a new online resource for Carbon Neutral Research Campuses, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Cornell University, which will help research parks reduce their carbon footprint.

Sincerely,

Phil Wirdzek
President and Executive Director
I²SL

Labs21 Conference Updates

Join us for the Labs21 2010 Annual Conference, taking place September 28 to 30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Labs21 2010 Annual Conference Call for Presenters is Now Open

Share your in-depth knowledge and expertise at the Labs21 2010 Annual Conference by submitting an abstract to the 2010 Call for Presenters. I²SL is seeking abstracts for the following topics: innovative design strategies, technologies, or building systems; greenhouse gas reduction techniques; carbon neutrality; financing sustainability projects; metering and benchmarking; operations and maintenance; water conservation methods; and strategies for designing energy-efficient data centers.

Visit I²SL's website for a complete list of suggested topics. Priority will be given to abstracts involving new or cutting-edge information. All applications are due by Friday, March 26, 2010. Submit your abstract today!

Call for Symposia

Because of the success of the following two symposia at last year's conference, we've decided to bring them back and are looking for abstract submissions from professionals in these fields.

• Beyond Energy Conservation—The Climate Neutral Research Campus

  The approach to a climate neutral research campus is simple: reduce energy use as much as possible, then incorporate the cleanest energy sources possible. The Climate Neutral Research Campus Symposium will explore buildings and energy systems on research campuses that are leading examples of efficiency and climate action. Industry members are encouraged to submit abstracts that focus on completed or ongoing projects, lessons learned, and measured results.

• Data Centers for the 21st Century (DataCenters21)

  The DataCenters21 Symposium will provide attendees with insightful and relevant information for creating and maintaining sustainable data centers, including hands-on experience by data center professionals involved with design, construction, maintenance, commissioning, and retrofits. Industry members are encouraged to submit abstracts for this track, especially when the data center interrelates with laboratories. Preference will be given to abstracts that address the following topics:

  • Information technology equipment power use (e.g., server efficiency, future trends)
  • Environmental conditioning issues (e.g., HVAC best practices)
  • Cooling options (e.g., air and liquid systems)

Go Beyond Awards: Recognize Excellence by Submitting a Nomination

I²SL, in partnership with R&D Magazine, is pleased to announce the third annual Go Beyond Awards. This program honors individuals, organizations, projects, and manufacturers that "go beyond" the status quo to minimize the environmental impacts of laboratories and other high-tech facilities and encourage the use of the Labs21 Approach. Nominations for individuals, organizations, projects, and equipment manufacturers are now being accepted through April 30, 2010. Awards will be presented during the Labs21 luncheon on September 30. Learn more about the Go Beyond Awards and submit your nomination today.

Stand Out at This Year's Technology and Services Fair

Share the latest technology and services your company has to offer with the Labs21 2010 Annual Conference audience of more than 600 facility manager, engineers, designers, owners, and operators. Early registration ends May 28, so sign up today to receive $500 off your booth registration.

2009 Conference Audio Recordings Now Available

Audio recordings of presentations given at the Labs21 2009 Annual Conference are now available on I²SL's website. Access is free for 2009 conference attendees until March 31, 2010. For those who did not attend the conference or would like access to the entire Labs21 2002–2009 Annual Conference Presentation Archive, a subscription is available for just $95.

I²SL would like to give special thanks to the following Labs21 2010 Annual Conference Sponsors:

Interested? Become a Sponsor!

Training Tidbits

2010 Course Schedule

• Westwood, Massachusetts
  April 6, 2010
  Labs21 Introductory Course: High-Performance, Low-Energy Design (half day)
  Labs21 Advanced Course: Optimizing Laboratory Ventilation Rates (half day)
  Hosted by: NSTAR and MAEEP

• San Francisco, California
  May 7, 2010
  Labs21 Introductory Course: High-Performance, Low-Energy Design
  Hosted by: Pacific Gas and Electric

• Washington, DC
  June 21, 2010
  Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria
  Hosted by: U.S. Green Building Council

I²SL is working with several organizations to host additional Labs21 Workshops in 2010. Check out I²SL's Workshop Web page for an up-to-date schedule.

Around the Industry

I²SL Represented at ACRE Conference

SEFA Members Attend ARABLAB 2010

I²SL's Spotlight On...

Jon Jackson of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson accepts the 2009 Go Beyond Award on Yale University's behalf.

2009 Go Beyond New Construction Project Award Winner—Yale University

Yale University's first LEED^® Silver-certified building, a 100,000-square-foot chemistry research building, has helped the university save more than 16 billion British thermal units of energy, 225,000 gallons of water, and more than $282,000 annually. This accomplishment was possible in part to the application of the Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria. Learn more about Yale University's award-winning project.

I²SL's E-Library

Bruce M. Haxton, AIA, LEED^® Accredited Professional and Fred Meade explore the daunting challenges and unprecedented opportunities that lie ahead for the global community in their article "21^st Century Vision: Developing a Global Sustainable Science and Technology Park Strategy and Creating Economic Development Worldwide." This newest addition to our E-Library provides perspective on how we can benefit by using the world’s network of science parks to tackle our toughest global challenges.

Ask Your Lab Question

This month's question:

Would you find value in receiving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Professional Credentialing Maintenance credits for attending I²SL workshops?

If this is something that interests you please email I²SL.

UC Davis Seeks Input for Morning Roundtable Session Discussion

Allen Doyle, a Sustainability Manager at the University of California at Davis, is planning two Morning Roundtable Sessions at the upcoming Labs21 2010 Annual Conference. In advance of the discussion, Mr. Doyle is seeking input from the laboratory community with regard to his discussion topics. Learn more about Mr. Doyle’s planned discussions and the questions for which he is hoping to receive answers:

• Smart Sample Storage: Research Imperative Meets Energy Management
• Set Point Temperatures Versus Comfort Bands: What are the Savings in a Modern Laboratory?

If you have a question geared toward increasing sustainability in your laboratory or high-performance facility, submit it to I²SL to be featured in the Sustainable Laboratory Times for consideration by the entire Labs21 Community.

News You Can Use

NREL Launches Carbon Neutral Research Campuses Website

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)and Cornell University, with support from Labs21, have launched a new website that will help research campuses reduce energy use. This invaluable resource offers comprehensive, practical steps that research campuses can take to develop and implement a climate action plan. Learn more about how you can achieve carbon neutrality for your campus through NREL's Climate Neutral Research Campuses website.

Labs21 Working Group Updates

• The Sub-Metering and Benchmarking Working Group met late last year to discuss constructing a framework that will help organizations understand the need for installing meters and sub-meters in their facilities. Other goals of the group include developing guidance for facility managers to plan metering for their facilities and exploring case studies of metered facilities to learn how the information obtained from the installed meters was used to identify inefficiencies. Look for a symposium on this topic at the Labs21 2010 Annual Conference.

• On January 25, I²SL hosted the second meeting of international laboratory planners to continue with a commitment to coordinate discussions and identify areas of common interest for information sharing and development. A list of agreed-upon topics has been proposed for presentation development in the next meeting, scheduled to take place later this spring. I²SL would like any international contacts to join this exciting working group. If you are interested in joining, please contact I²SL.

Student Design Competition Focuses on Sustainable Laboratory in USVI

Inspired by the success of the Labs21 2003 to 2004 Student Design Competition, I²SL is planning the International Sustainable Laboratory Student Design Competition in partnership with the Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies (JICMS) and in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). This competition will enable architecture and engineering students from around the world to provide new and innovative thinking for the creation of energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable laboratories at the Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center. I²SL is seeking financial commitments of $25,000 or more from sponsors to help launch the competition. To show its support for the competition, the U.S. Department of the Interior has already committed funds to I²SL. Join them by sponsoring this truly international challenge. Contact I²SL to learn more.

Industry Job Postings

• Solar Photovolatics (PV) Project Engineer
• Senior Science Planner with Flad Architects

Upcoming Industry Events

Building Energy Conference 2010
March 9-11
Boston, Massachusetts
Sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association

2010 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference
March 21-23
College Park, Maryland
Sponsored by the National Association of College and University Business Officers

Globalcon 2010: Energy, Power, and Facility Management Strategies and Techniques
March 24-25
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by the Association of Energy Engineers

Coming Next Issue...

• Conference announcements, including tour locations
• Upcoming Labs21 Workshops
• I²SL Spotlight on… the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Muirkirk Road Complex, 2009 Go Beyond Award Winner for Renovation or Adaptive Reuse
• ...and much more!