Workshops | I2SL

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Pre-Conference Workshops

Full Day | 9:30 am - 5:30 pm CDT

Introduction to Sustainable Strategies for Laboratory Planning, Design, and Operation

Sean Convery, P.E., Cator, Ruma & Associaties

Punit Jain, CannonDesign

This workshop will focus on ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in lab buildings. This full-day training will introduce strategies for planning and designing lab facilities that are flexible and adaptable over time, that support environmental and economic sustainability and human health. It will cover setting up a comprehensive energy management master plan, as well as tips and tools for constructing and operating sustainable laboratories, both new and renovated. These strategies can help lower your lab building’s energy use by 50 percent or more. We will also discuss strategies for selling your energy efficiency and sustainability programs to upper management and describe several strategies for alternative financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

A seasoned laboratory designer and energy efficiency engineer will cover topics that include the architecture, lab planning, and engineering systems of high-performance laboratories:

Laboratory planning ideas for improving sustainability and energy efficiency
The architecture and engineering design of high-performance laboratories
The energy-efficient HVAC design process
Water conservation and lighting design strategies
Case studies
Resources and tools

While designed as an introductory course, those familiar with sustainable laboratory design are also welcome to attend and contribute to the Q&A. Laboratory professionals from all backgrounds are encouraged to attend this course because it gives a good introduction to laboratory sustainability and energy efficiency and why they are such important issues. Participants include:

Architects and lab planners
Engineers
Facility owners, managers, and operations and maintenance staff
Construction/contracting and project managers
Laboratory equipment manufacturers
LEED®-accredited professionals
Safety, health, and environmental management professionals
Laboratory users
Students in any of the above-mentioned fields

As part of the course, each participant will receive detailed course materials and links to the I2SL Best Practices and Smart Labs Tool Kits as a further resource to meet their sustainable design goals.

Full Day | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm CDT

Safe and Energy-Efficiency Lab Ventilation Systems: Application of Labs2Zero Measures

Brad Cochran, CPP Wind Engineers

Tom Smith, 3Flow

Description coming soon!

Half Day | 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm CDT

Creating and Growing Green Labs Programs

Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar and Leoncio Lagarde, University of Colorado Boulder

Emily Colpack, University of Alabama Birmingham

Ryan Weeks, Johns Hopkins University

This half-day workshop will bring together multiple green labs programs to discuss strategies for starting and growing green labs programs on university campuses. Given the large environmental footprint of scientific research, every institution of higher education with a research activity rating of R1 should be implementing green labs programming. Not only will this be necessary for meeting institutional sustainability and climate goals, but green labs programs contribute to safety in laboratory research and educate scientists in efficiency and sustainability practices that are becoming more and more in demand within the research field. Green labs programs save institutions money and have demonstrated their positive influence on energy/water savings, waste diversion, community-building in research, and educational and training opportunities for researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates.

A wide range of topics will be covered, including advice on starting a program, funding sources and levels, campus stakeholder engagement, similarities and difference of programs, incentive strategies, and how programs are structured and function to get work done and efforts accomplished. Participants will be given ample opportunities to ask questions and time will be provided for discussion on topics of interest by participants. Depending on the size and interest of the group, part of the workshop could be dedicated to breaking into smaller groups for deeper discussion and problem-solving on topics raised during the workshop.