Promoting Energy Efficient Laboratory Appliances
in a University Setting
Susan Kulakowski and Alicia
Aponte, Stanford University
My presentation will share the progress of our efforts to promote
the use of more energy-efficient laboratory appliances at Stanford
University. I will begin with some background information about
a survey that Stanford's Utilities Division conducted in the spring
of 2002, which measured the energy consumption of refrigerators
and freezers in two large laboratory buildings. I will discuss how
the survey's analysis enabled us to recommend three initiatives
designed to increase use of energy-efficient laboratory equipment
on campus.
After this brief introduction, I will present each initiative and
discuss our current progress in achieving its goals. I will begin
by discussing our project to replace all of the refrigerators and
freezers in the "worst" lab (in terms of the number of
old, inefficient units) of those surveyed. This will be followed
by a description of how we created and implemented a financial incentive
program to encourage "early retirement" of inefficient
refrigerators and freezers throughout campus. Finally, I will finish
my presentation by sharing our progress in developing procurement
policies and practices that encourage energy-efficient laboratory
appliance purchases.
Labs21 Connection:
My presentation will address an often-ignored aspect of laboratory
energy use; the electricity and heat removal requirements associated
with appliances and other "plug loads". Stanford University's
survey of two large biology buildings revealed that refrigerators
and freezers alone accounted for over three percent (3%) of total
building electricity use, valued at $30,000 annually, plus roughly
$14,000 per year in chilled water costs for heat removal.
Our follow-up project to replace all of the old refrigerator/freezer
units in the "worst" lab surveyed is noteworthy because
it demonstrates that high-end refrigeration equipment is not needed
for all laboratory applications. Our refrigerator replacement incentive
program is unique not only because it was developed on the basis
of survey research, but because it is funded and administered internally.
Finally, the dialogue between Stanford's Utilities Division and
Procurement Office about developing more energy-efficient laboratory
equipment purchasing practices has led to another rebate program
that should further reduce campus energy use. This last initiative,
specifically, has expanded beyond the laboratory setting and as
such we consider our approach of interest to other institutions
with similar conditions.
Biographies:
Susan Kulakowski is the Campus Energy Manager for Stanford
University, where her primary focus is on finding ways to improve
energy and water use efficiency in academic facilities. Prior to
returning to Stanford three years ago she was a Senior Project Manager
at Energy Solutions, where she worked with such clients as Pacific
Gas & Electric Company, the City of Oakland, and the California
Board for Energy Efficiency. Ms. Kulakowski has a BA from Stanford
and a MS from the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley.
Alicia Aponte is the Campus Energy
Management Intern for Stanford University. Her primary focus is
on energy and water conservation research, as it relates to academic
facilities and on-campus housing. Ms. Aponte is currently pursuing
both a BS and MS degree in the Earth Systems department at Stanford
University.
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