Lab Benchmarking at Cornell University, a Unique Opportunity

Michael T. Boggs and Abigail J. Krich, Cornell University

Abstract:

Cornell University is in a unique position of being able to do a thorough lab benchmarking program using only buildings on its Ithaca campus. With over two dozen laboratory buildings ranging from a nanofabrication facility to a large animal research center, the university can compare the energy usage patterns of different lab types without concerning itself with normalization for climate. Additionally, Cornell has a tradition of collecting large amounts of utility data on each of its buildings, allowing for detailed analysis of trends in energy consumption. Using this data, the lab buildings can be ranked against each other and conclusions drawn on why certain labs do better or worse and what changes can be made to improve each lab facility type.

Biography:

Abigail Krich is studying for her B.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University. Summer and fall 2002 she is an engineering coop student employed by Cornell's Planning, Design, and Construction working on energy conservation projects for the university, including laboratory energy efficiency studies. She is president of Kyoto Now!, the student group working with the university to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions due to energy consumption to meet the standards of the Kyoto Protocol.