Symposia

The Labs21 2009 Annual Conference again included several symposia, which are detailed presentations on topics of interest to the Labs21 community with dynamic panel discussions. The following symposia occurred:

 

 

Stakeholder Involvement in the Sustainable Laboratory Design Process

Tuesday, September 22

Summary

Using an innovative grand charrette approach to accelerate the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in a laboratory's design can substantially improve the final levels of functionality, sustainability, and usability as well as reducing associated costs. The presenters provided hands-on experiences and lessons learned to develop and manage such a design charrette that incorporates stakeholder ideas and feedback. Session attendees learned how to: explain the importance of involving all stakeholders in the design process as early as possible to laboratory project developers; encourage stakeholder input; differentiate between sufficient and non-productive stakeholder involvement; resolve stakeholder input on the laboratory design process; and evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of stakeholder participation.

The first part of the symposium featured a real-world example of a highly successful design grand charrette for an $800 million research laboratory and pharmaceutical manufacturing project, presented by two members of the design team that managed the process and integrated the charrette outcomes into the design solutions. The second half of the symposium provided suggestions for incorporating pertinent design elements into the charrette process and include how to engage Labs21 technical support, prioritize issues, apply new and emerging technologies, and refine design suggestions.

Moderator

Peter James, Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement (HEEPI)

Speakers

Peter Jackson, Health Protection Agency

Andrew Kane, Faulknerbrowns Architects

Mike Dockery, SuiGeneris

Geoffrey Bell, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Data Centers

Tuesday, September 22

Summary

In the 21st century, research conducted by government, industry, and academia will benefit more and more from electronic computational capabilities and data storage.  This electronic technology shows great promise and presents an opportunity to augment, and even reduce, the use of toxic materials in biological systems and critical environments. Consequently, laboratory research will increasingly be conducted virtually, with computers rather than in the laboratory itself. The scientific implications of combining the information technology revolution with laboratory research are far reaching; however, the hard realities affecting laboratory design, engineering, operation, budgets, and the environment must be recognized. This Labs21 symposium examined these realities as they stack-up against the goals of the Labs21 program, federal mandates, and regional resources.  Speakers provided a review of several projects and challenges, shedding light on these considerations and providing a back-drop for discussions with the audience.    

Moderator

Steve Greenberg, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Presentations

Demonstration of Data Center Wireless Sensing and Control at the California Franchise Tax Board
Geoffrey Bell, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

National Center for Atmospheric Research Wyoming Supercomputing Center
Peter Rumsey, Rumsey Engineers
Aaron Anderson, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Convergence of Information Technology and Facilities
Anthony Acerra, Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Jakob Carnemark, Skanska Mission Critical

Increasing the Efficiency of Scientific Computing Facilities on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Laboratory Campuses
William Lintner, DOE, Federal Energy Management Program

Energy Efficiency in Research Data Centers—Lessons Learned at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
Dale Sartor, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Coordinating Demands for Security in Sustainable Laboratories

Tuesday, September 22

Summary

As government, academic, and industry research expands, so too does the importance of improving how we handle, store, and transport hazardous chemicals and infectious disease agents and manage facilities that contain sensitive areas, materials, or information. Developing a better understanding of what it takes to make a laboratory fully secure in a dynamic environment requires new strategies for designing and engineering the laboratory workspace inside and out. It also calls for innovative ideas with regard to access, control, disposal, facility placement, and community relationships.

As such, the creation of these research facilities requires a deliberate and thorough assessment of safety and security issues, not only for users and operators, but for the community in which the laboratory is located. The design, engineering, and operation of these laboratories, including their energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, must also be simultaneously considered.

This symposium presented some of the most current thinking on these relationships. From early consideration in planning to understanding regulations and risks, the owner, designer, and engineer confront a reality that is unpredictable from one project to the next, but manageable with the right tools. The presenters shared their thoughts on appropriate tools and strategies for designing and operating secure, sustainable laboratories and will solicit audience feedback on the topic.

Moderator

Tom Coleman, Department of Homeland Security

Presentations

The Security of High Containment Laboratories
Guy Collyer, Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI)

Introduction to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Susan Griggs, Eli Lilly and Company

Internal and External Threat Management
Fred Larsen, Eli Lilly and Company


How to Become a Climate-Neutral Research Campus

This four-part symposium highlighted the innovative ideas, resources, and tools that can enable campuses to pursue carbon neutrality, and was presented by the campus representatives and partners that are leading the way in this effort. In the first segment, attendees learned strategies for funding renewable energy and conservation projects during tight financial times, including techniques such as green development loans, performance contracting, and power provider agreements. Next, several universities that have been progressive regarding sustainability discussed their Climate Action Plans, which present a variety of approaches to achieve carbon neutrality. The third segment featured bold and innovative projects that have great environmental benefits and was a chance to see what campuses on the cutting-edge of sustainability are doing. To wrap up the symposium, campus representatives described how to prepare a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, including conveying lessons learned from campuses that have already completed this task. Participants learned which part of campus operations is the greatest contributor to GHG emissions, and received a sneak peak at the new federal GHG reporting guidelines. 

Each of these four sessions included a brief presentation by industry leaders followed by a panel question and answer period. To foster a rich discussion, members of the audience were encouraged to share their experiences.  

As a follow-up to the symposium, a Morning Roundtable Session was held to discuss and help create the vision for a research campus attempting to achieve carbon neutrality. This one-hour charrette engaged participants and collected ideas that push the envelope for campuses and are a benefit to the environment.  Participants were encouraged to share design ideas that have been used successfully, as well as those that have potential but have not yet been tested.  Ideas collected at this workshop will be assembled in an article to create a vision for a climate-positive research campus.

Climate Neutral—How the Research Campus of Today Can Provide Leadership for Climate-Neutral Communities of the Future  

Wednesday, September 23

Moderator

Randy Lacey, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Speakers

Randy Lacey, NREL

Bert Bland, Cornell University

Dave Newport, University of Colorado at Boulder

Climate Neutral—The Campus Energy/Greenhouse Gas Accounting Inventory: The First Step on the Path to Climate Neutrality

Wednesday, September 23

Moderator

John Nangle, NREL


Presentations

Federal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Regulations
John Nangle, NREL

Yardsticks for the 21st Century: Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tools
Claire Roby, Clean Air - Cool Planet

Climate Neutral—Tangible Actions and Measured Results from Research Campuses on the Path to Climate Neutrality

Wednesday, September 23

Moderator

Randy Lacey, NREL

Presentations

Energy Conservation, Lake Source Cooling and Other Cool Ideas
Lanny Joyce, Cornell University

Central Geothermal for Campus Heating and Cooling
Robert Koester, Ball State University

EcoLine™: University of New Hampshire Landfill Gas Project
Brett Pasinella, University of New Hampshire

Climate Neutral—How Research Campuses Finance Climate Neutrality Without the Capital?

Wednesday, September 23

Moderator

Otto Van Geet, NREL

Presentations

Purchase Power Agreements for Renewable Energy
John Parodi, Roche

Financing Sustainable Research Facilities
Chris Strom, Skanska


Developing a Labs21 Energy Metering/Sub-Metering Strategy

Wednesday, September 23

Summary

Providing best-in-class, safe, efficient, and effective operations in the laboratory requires using real-time information about the laboratory's performance. It is believed that the availability and use of real-time information can dramatically improve the daily management of laboratories, invoke positive changes in staff behavior, and lead to the development of advanced automation of the laboratory environment and equipment. Facility managers, researchers, operators, and staff all play roles in the daily performance of a laboratory. Consequently, they also must share in the responsibility of delivering a high-performance outcome. Embracing real time information derived from advanced metering and sub-metering is one way to do this.

I2SL, with EPA and DOE support, has coordinated a working group of industry professionals, technology providers, laboratory managers, and organizations such as the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to explore technologies and best practices for laboratory metering and sub-metering. This collection of industry experts will build upon the previous Labs21 efforts that resulted in the development of the Labs21 Energy Benchmarking Tool, which identified the major energy-consuming operations of a laboratory. 

Metering and sub-metering present several challenges for the laboratory:

  • Managing the large amount of data captured
  • Organizing data into usable information
  • Using this data to invoke change and operations and maintenance (O&M) staff responses
  • Automating systems for correction and adjustment
  • Justifying the investment required to install sub-meters

During this symposium, the working group explored the ins and outs of laboratory metering, speak to these challenges, and seek advice and comments from the Labs21 Community on their metering priorities.

Sub-metering and benchmarking will not solve all the safety and efficiency issues of your laboratory. They will, however, provide goals to improve a facility's performance.

Moderator

Larry Clark, Hill York

Presentations

Toward a Labs21 Metering Strategy and Protocol
Jim Plourde, Schneider Electric Company

Metering Case Studies: Existing Approaches and Technologies
 Jim Plourde, Schneider Electric Company
Mark Schores and Matt Strong, Siemens Building Technologies
Ray Benton, Johnson Controls, Inc.

Labs21 Energy Benchmarking Tool and Metrics
Paul Mathew, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory


O&M for High-Performance Laboratories: Changing the Paradigm of Competence and Culture

Wednesday, September 23

Summary

Effective building operations and maintenance represents an often neglected but essential sustainability strategy for high-tech facilities. During this symposium, presenters shared the findings of a recent National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded study completed by the Building Intelligence Group for Laney College “Current Situation and Trends in Buildings and Facility Operations.” The findings point at the need for a paradigm shift in building operations required for more sustainable building performance, involving behavioral changes across the full spectrum of building stakeholders, from owners, managers, technicians, to building occupants.

Supported by a National Science Foundation Grant, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, and extensive industry support, Laney College's Environmental Control Technology Program has revised and expanded its HVAC and Building Automation Technician curriculum to address the growing skill gaps between building automation technology requirements and building technician capabilities. Presenters introduced Laney College's Building Automation curriculum as a model for green workforce development and facilitate a dialogue on collaboration opportunities among building stakeholders and educational institutions. A follow-on Morning Roundtable discussion the following morning continued the dialogue.

Moderator

Peter Crabtree, Laney College

Presentations

O&M for High-Performance Laboratories: Changing the Paradigm of Competence and Culture
Jeff Seewald, Building Intelligence Group
Peter Crabtree, Laney College

Between Engineering and Operations: Exploring the Divide
Chuck Frost, Laney College