Emerging Trends in Efficient Laboratory Water Management
Roy Sieber, Eastern Research Group, Inc.
Water and sewer rates are increasing faster than inflation throughout the country. Many areas are water constrained or face uncertainty about future supplies due to drought or climate change. How should the laboratory community respond to these changing conditions?
This presentation will address effective ways to position your organization with respect to laboratory water use. Specific topics addressed will include best practices at existing facilities, laboratory equipment considerations, and facility design approaches to minimize water use. Best practices discussed will range from proper operation and maintenance to the role of water assessments in identifying and capitalizing on saving opportunities. Major water-using laboratory equipment will be reviewed with a focus on which features are most important to reducing water demand. Finally, facility design considerations will be examined, including the role of LEED® criteria and new ASHRAE standards related to water use.
Laboratories typically are large water users. Come and learn about steps you can take to reduce utility costs and the demand laboratories place on vital water resources.
Roy Sieber has 25 years of water efficiency consulting experience, helping federal agencies develop and implement water use efficiency and conservation initiatives. Mr. Sieber specializes in all phases of program implementation, including strategic planning, facility assessment, technology evaluation and performance monitoring, and field studies. In addition, Mr. Sieber is the program manager of technical support to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Program, and in that role has helped develop product specifications and a water use best management practices guide for commercial and institutional facilities. Mr. Sieber holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.