Laboratory Energy Conservation An "overseas" perspective on motivations, method and key factors

Steffen Springer, Waldner Laboreinrichtungen GmbH & Co. KG

Energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. Both efficiency and conservation can reduce carbon foot print. But what do energy conservation principles mean for your lab?

Laboratories are major energy consumers on academic campuses and in corporate research centres. On a square metre, labs use four to five times more energy than classrooms and offices. Reducing energy consumption can decrease a laboratory's carbon footprint, reducing its contribution to global warming.

All the architectural, engineering, and other sustainability issues should be studied on a project-by-project basis. Factors such as the client's specific goals, the type of lab being designed, the part of the country where the lab is located, and its position on the site will lead to different solutions.

The presentation will elaborate on different solutions from an international perspective.

Presentation Summary
The presentation will focus on and discuss the following quote: 'Sustainability is the simultaneous pursuit of human health and happiness, environmental quality, and economic well-being for current and future generations'(1) from the laboratories perspective and is going to illustrate ideas and examples from several continents.

Learning Objectives

  • Sustainability starts with awareness
  • Selecting energy efficient equipment
  • The importance of an holistic approach to conceiving, designing, building and operating the scheme

Biography:

A seasoned engineer, Steffen studied in Germany and the UK. He practiced in Europe, Asia and Africa before returning to the UK for his MBA. He joined Waldner in 2003 and relocated to Germany in 2011 to take the position of Director Global Markets. Steffen has worked on laboratory facility schemes with most of the top ten pharmaceutical companies and has a particular interest in the holistic approach to designing research facilities.

 

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