Improving Lab Energy Efficiency With Snorkels, Sash Closure, and Commissioning

During I2SL’s Annual Conference September 29-October 2, there were a wide variety of speakers on technical topics ranging from system optimization and sustainable design to decarbonization and green labs. One session focused on campus efficiency efforts and appealed to a broad array of lab facility managers, engineers, sustainability staff, and researchers by highlighting three different ways that these diverse groups can work together to save energy: retro-commissioning, snorkel positioning, and shutting the sash on fume hoods when not in use.

The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) undertook a variety of small and large-scale energy conservation projects. For example, a retro-commission effort in more than 90 campus buildings has resulted in $120 million in costs savings; adopting a “fix as you go” approach, the team of 12 commissioning agents adjusts occupancy schedules, fixes valves, and provides controls optimization. Energy performance contracting has helped the labs deal with deferred maintenance, initiate half a dozen efficiency projects, and achieve $7 million in annual energy savings. One such project was converting constant air volume to variable air volume labs. UIUC also safely reduced air changes in unoccupied labs and added variable frequency drives to cleanrooms. Space optimization and building automation are two of UIUC’s future priorities.

Proper installation and use of snorkels and canopies in labs can make a difference when trying to conserve energy. Snorkels may be prevalent in labs, but they are often not used or are used ineffectively; for example, did you know that in order to be effective, snorkels must be within four to six inches of the chemical source? And since snorkels contribute to lab exhaust, they should be tested just like fume hoods. Canopies used to remove heat from labs are often on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but in actuality they may be rarely needed. And if the canopy is positioned too high, the steam will rise and fill the room, defeating the purpose of the canopy.

Shutting the sash on fume hoods when not in use can be a way to conserve energy in labs variable air volume. Shutting the fume hood sash in a constant air volume lab does not directly save energy because the air flow remains constant regardless of the sash position; however, it is still considered a good practice to close the sash when not in use to maintain proper containment and safety. To encourage sash closure with future researchers in academic settings, the I2SL University Alliance Group recently conducted a pilot “Shut the Sash” competition challenge among four institutions, scoring them qualitatively based on size, behavior change, engagement, engineering, and resource optimization. Thirteen lab buildings participated, covering 347 fume hoods, and challenge participants engaging over 450 scientists. Congratulations to Boston Children’s Hospital for winning the inaugural challenge—in addition to receiving the highest overall score, the hospital identified 28 underutilized fume hoods, set up two hood sharing programs, and hibernated eight fume hoods!

Interested in other I2SL Annual Conference topics? Most of the speakers’ presentations are available to conference attendees, and to I2SL members early next year. Not a member? Join now!