I²SL Sustainability Scoop

October 2016

Don't Get Left Out in the Cold! Join the 2017 North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge

A winter wonderland is a great landscape for the outdoors, but it's not something you want in your lab's freezers. If you're ready to tackle the frozen wilderness of your lab's refrigeration units and improve your cold storage management, the North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge is for you! I²SL and My Green Lab have partnered to create the inaugural North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which will take place from January to May 2017. The challenge recognizes participating laboratories for implementing sustainable and cutting-edge cold storage management practices.

All North American laboratories are eligible to participate. Participants will earn points for activities related to responsible and sustainable cold storage practices, such as freezer and sample inventories, temperature tuning, and unplugging unused units. Photo submissions can also earn your lab bonus points! The Freezer Challenge will award its participants based on point totals and points per refrigeration unit at the 2017 I²SL Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

Join the challenge and strive for sustainability in your lab's cold storage management. For more information on the challenge, eligibility, awards, and how to register, visit the North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge's website or contact info@mygreenlab.org.

Dig Deeper Into Cold Storage Management

Check out these resources to get a head start on learning about cold storage and energy efficiency:

• Read the Lab Manager article, "Improving Energy Efficiency in Cold Storage Systems," to find out about refrigerants and best practices.
• Need help spreading the word about freezer energy savings? Try one of these freezer-themed sustainability posters from the University of Colorado Boulder's Green Labs Program.