Laboratory Benchmarking Working Group

Lead: Alison Farmer

Group Purpose

The Laboratory Benchmarking Working Group was formed in September 2014 to evaluate the current state of energy benchmarking for labs, and to investigate (then implement) useful enhancements or supplements to the available tools. The group's efforts will focus on projects with strong business use cases which benefit a significant segment of the community of lab owners, consultants, and researchers.

In March 2019, the working group helped launch a new and improved Laboratory Benchmarking Tool to allow lab managers, designers, and users to compared their facilities' energy performance to a national data set of more than 700 labs.

Laboratory Benchmarking Tool Overview

Working Group Projects

• The main Laboratory Benchmarking Tool (LBT) now contains searchable data from nearly 1,000 lab buildings, and we’d like to see that grow even more! Sign up at the I²SL Annual Conference to input or update your lab’s energy data in the LBT, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win free attendance to the 2023 conference.
• We’ve gone global! Siemens Smart Infrastructure sponsored an internationalization project for the tool. LBT users can now enter data for facilities anywhere in the world and can choose U.S. or metric units for benchmarking comparisons.
• I²SL added a module to the LBT—Operational Practices—which goes beyond energy benchmarking to allow users to compare policies and practices with their peers, including: lab ventilation management plans, occupant engagement activities, high-performance fume hoods, and other technologies or policies. These operational practice comparisons can help catalyze action towards more sustainable labs. The module includes data from more than 100 facilities, collected this year via an I²SL survey. Check out the module and add your own data to keep the tool growing in its reach and impact!
• Sponsored by Siemens Smart Infrastructure, the Actionable Insights Module bridges the gap between your building data and action by providing customized energy efficiency project ideas and resources. Try it out today!
• Alison Farmer, kW Engineering, and Paul Mathew, LBNL, made a presentation on the benchmarking tool at the I²SL Annual Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, in October 2018.
• I²SL thanks Siemens for sponsoring the benchmarking session at the 2018 I²SL conference, as well as a laboratory benchmarking report and the Actionable Insights Module for the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool! The Working Group is interested in finding additional sponsors to help sustain, grow, and promote the new tool. Email info@i2sl.org if interested in sponsoring.
• Related Resources: Rating Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Laboratories: Results and Lessons from the Labs21 Program

Get Involved

The group consists of experts and enthusiasts in energy benchmarking for labs. Members are encouraged to contribute their expertise, energy, and ideas. The main group currently holds monthly conference calls; smaller subgroups are created for specific tasks and may hold more frequent calls or meetings as needed. To get involved, please contact Alison Farmer.

Working Group Activities

• The working group convened via conference call on January 18, 2018. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group met on October 18, 2017, at the 2017 I²SL Annual Conference. View the meeting minutes and presentation from the Smart Labs Symposium.
• The working group convened via conference call on August 9, 2017. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on February 8, 2017. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on November 17, 2016. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group met on September 28, 2016, at the 2016 I²SL Annual Conference. View the meeting minutes.
View conference presentations from working group members:

• "The Demand for Lab Benchmarking," Jacob Werner
• "The Evolution of the Labs21 Benchmarking Tool," Alison Farmer
• "Future Directions for Lab Benchmarking," Alison Farmer
• The working group convened via conference call on July 11, 2016. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on May 3, 2016. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on February 5, 2016. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on December 21, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on October 30, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group met on September 23, 2015, at the 2015 I²SL Annual Conference. View the meeting minutes.
View conference presentations from working group members:

• "Benchmarking Lab Performance: Where Are We Today?," Craig Wray
• "The Future of Lab Benchmarking," Alison Farmer
• The working group convened via conference call on September 11, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on July 16, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on June 1, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• April/May: No group call. Group members working on distribution of the benchmarking survey.
• The working group convened via conference call on March 25, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on February 27, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on January 20, 2015. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on December 16, 2014. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group convened via conference call on November 19, 2014. View the meeting minutes and results of the assessment exercise.
• The working group convened via conference call on October 27, 2014. View the meeting minutes.
• The working group met on September 24, 2014, at the 2014 I²SL Annual Conference. View the meeting minutes.

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