Chemistry Labs, The New Math Changes Everything

Greg Muth, Wilson Architects
Betsy Blunt, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Chemistry Labs are some of the most energy intensive facilities on any institution's campus and with the increased focus on sustainability, organizations are recognizing that something has to change. With the introduction of new ventilation technologies such as low flow fume hoods, demand based ventilation and innovative filter technologies, the assumptions that we used to make about designing chemistry labs are being stood on their ears. In this session we will look at a sampling of recent chemistry projects and see who is using low flow rates, night-time setbacks, sash closers and other energy saving concepts to give a sense of where we are headed. Then we will share lessons learned from our experience working on projects for the University of Massachusetts Amherst and other Universities about when to utilize fumehoods and when it is better to utilize some other sort of ventilation device. We will look at VAV, low flow, and filtered fumehoods and look at what really saves energy and what is just hype. Whether you are looking at a renovation project or a new facility, this session will help you maximize your energy savings.

Learning Objectives

  • Provide an understanding of how chemical fumehoods are part of an overall laboratory exhaust system and how changes to the overall system affect fumehood design options
  • Identify the different types of fumehoods and other ventilation devices and understand how to select the proper ventilation device for a given application and what the implication of that selection is
  • Identify the different parameters of fumehood operation and how they affect overall energy consumption, equipment size and user safety

Biographies:

Greg Muth is a Senior Laboratory Planner and Project Manager for Wilson Architects in Boston, MA. with over 25 years of experience with labs and other high tech space . He has been involved in the construction and renovation of over 15 million square feet of S&T spaces all over the world and managed the design of what is on track to be one of the largest LEED Certified projects in the world, Princess Nora University for Women. Greg is the founding president of the New England Chapter of I2SL.

Betsy Blunt is a Senior Laboratory Planner in Design & Construction Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, assessing research faculty needs. She was a research scientist for 31 years specializing in environmental microbiology, BTEX and uranium bioremediation, iron and humic respiration, biochemistry and molecular biology. Betsy also has worked as a Laboratory Safety Specialist in Environmental Health and Safety concentrating her efforts on safety in chemistry laboratories.

 

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