Improving the Environmental Performance of University Laboratories in Britain

Peter James, Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement project
Mike Dockery, SUI Generis, Ltd

This presentation will highlight changing regulatory and stakeholder demands with regard to laboratory environmental performance in the UK and Europe, as well as describe current energy performance in high-efficiency laboratories based on benchmarking around 100 facilities, and present case studies of two recent developments at the University of Newcastle.

The first section will briefly outline five recent or forthcoming developments which are currently driving improvement in laboratory energy and environmental performance: 1) a new fume hood standard, BS EN 14175, which moves away from fixed ventilation norms in favor of a risk assessment approach that is enabling fume cupboard face velocities to be safely reduced to a range of 60-80 feet per minute; 2) a requirement to calculate and publish the energy consumption of laboratory (and other) buildings, which will soon enable external benchmarking of performance; 3) a requirement on universities and other service institutions to manage and minimize carbon emissions, in part by participation in 'cap and trade' schemes; 4) the annual publication of a 'University Green League Table'; and 5) the modification of an existing building assessment scheme (BREEAM – the UK equivalent of LEED®) to better reflect the special circumstances of laboratories.

The second section summarizes the outcomes of regular benchmarking exercises on around 100 UK university laboratories, of a range of different types. The raw data produced has been useful in highlighting an unexpectedly wide spread of performance. The scheme adds further value by running workshops where institutions who have submitted data can discuss its significance with peers. This 'benchlearning' process has helped to clarify the reasons for performance differences, and highlighted the actions which really are improving environmental performance.

The final section presents two case studies of chemical and biological laboratory projects at the University of Newcastle. They began with a Labs21-inspired early stage design charette, which had interesting differences with similar exercises in the US. The BS 14175 standard also enabled a much more detailed understanding of potential hazards, which in turn helped persuade safety officers and code inspectors to accept lower face velocities and other energy saving measures. The laboratories were also designed to maximize flexibility, which will enable their furniture and fittings to be easily moved when required by a planned campus reorganization.

Biographies:

Mike Dockery has been involved in the design of plant and building services engineering for more than 30 years. Since 1980, his work has had an increasing emphasis on 'high-science' projects (pharmaceutical, biotech, micro-electronics, petrochem, university, and defense clients). In this time, his experience has become focused on research and design facilities, including all the key scientific disciplines (synthetic and analytical chemistry, biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and vivariums), and has seen an increasing involvement with the wider context of building design, particularly including functional layout. His project involvement has run through from conceptual engineering, to site trouble-shooting, commissioning, and handover activities. Mike has a commitment to the ethos of multi/inter-disciplinary design and the various techniques which improve its effectiveness (3D, 4D CAD, CFD's, and full size physical modelling). He is chairman of the BSI Laboratory Technical Committee LBI/18 and leads the UK delegation to the CEN Fume Hoods Committee. In 2007, he was involved in a series of one-day events intended to formally introduce the Labs21 approach of sustainable laboratory design to Europe. A central aspect of Mike's work has been the challenging of 'formulaic design' or 'design-by-rote' through the consideration of innovative techniques and technologies to improve functionality and reduce costs, yet still maintain the highest levels of laboratory safety and adherence to codes. He considers this philosophy to be key in meeting the evermore frequent demands for laboratories that are flexible, adaptable, sustainable, and of good value.

Peter James is professor of environmental management at the University of Bradford and co-director of the HEFCE-funded Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement project (see www.heepi.org.uk), a networking and technical guidance project which provides environmental support to British universities. HEEPI has worked with US Labs21 to develop a small-scale British sustainable laboratories program (see www.labs21.org.uk), and has recently received funding for a larger scale initiative, in the UK and (it is hoped) the rest of Europe. Another HEEPI project is also helping the sector to develop greener data centres. Peter has published extensively on environmental accounting; green technology; and high performance buildings, and has been a member of the European Commission's Expert Groups on Environmental Technology, and information technology and Energy Efficiency.

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