Dedicated to advancing sustainable laboratories globally.
A1 Decarbonization | Aiming for Net Zero
From Potential to Reality, How Leading Universities Can Embrace and Implement a Net Zero Future
The climate crisis demands urgent action, and universities—incubators of innovation and shapers of tomorrow's workforce—are among the most effective drivers of environmental impact. The scale of their environmental impact is significant; in 2020, just 93 U.S. universities were responsible for 5.8 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the output of 1.1 million cars. This growing awareness of environmental impact has driven many universities to take significant steps toward sustainability. More than 1,050 universities across 68 countries have committed to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. While these pledges are encouraging, many institutions struggle to translate their commitments into concrete action. This presentation will dive into technologies, case studies, and tactics including net zero certifications that university sustainability professionals who often lack adequate resources and funding to implement these ambitious goals can use to bridge this divide and achieve scalable climate impact by reducing Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
How the AIM Report Works, and What You Can Do With It
The Actionable Insights and Measures (AIM) Report is this year’s major new release from I2SL’s flagship Labs2Zero program. The AIM Report is an automated lab energy audit tool that identifies opportunities for lab buildings to reduce their energy use.
​
Based on facility and utility data entered into the I2SL Lab Benchmarking Tool (LBT), the AIM Report provides a screening level assessment, roughly equivalent to an ASHRAE Level 1 audit. It suggests improvement measures specific to each lab building, along with estimated implementation costs, energy savings, next steps to implement the measures, and case studies of the measures in action.
​
This presentation will introduce the AIM Report and explain how I2SL’s community came together to lend its expertise to the development of AIM’s technical components. Speakers will review the 26 lab-specific energy efficiency measures available in the first version, highlight the most important building parameters to adjust for best results, and explain how to use AIM to construct a “package” of interactive savings measures. The presentation will conclude with an exploration of the upcoming feature releases, which include full internationalization, enhancement of the AIM calculation engine, and a new set of high-priority energy efficiency measures.
Decarbonizing Labs: Airflow, Data, and Collaboration at Cell Signaling Technology
This presentation explores the decarbonization of existing laboratory facilities through a case study of a recent project at Cell Signaling Technology. Attendees will learn about the company’s sustainability journey and the cross-functional collaboration required to implement impactful energy strategies that create safer and healthier spaces. Key project team members, including Cell Signaling Technology’s Director of Sustainability and a representative from CopperTree Analytics, who will highlight the role of building analytics and 24/7 monitoring of mechanical systems in driving performance improvements. The session will emphasize the importance of early utility engagement to unlock funding and accelerate project adoption. The presentation will also review how airflow optimization is a key energy conservation measure that reduces baseload demand and enables a strategic shift from fossil fuels to electrification, paving the way for further infrastructure investment to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A2 Sustainable Science | Green Labs Leaders
Lessons From Boston Children's Hospital Green Labs and Employee-Lead Group Initiatives
Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) has embedded sustainability into its research and clinical operations through the Green Labs Program and the Environmental Sustainability Employee Lead Group (ELG). These initiatives drive environmental change by engaging staff in sustainable practices that align with BCH's goals of carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.This presentation will explore BCH's sustainability journey, highlighting key initiatives such as the International Freezer Challenge, which reduced over 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions, and the Shut the Sash fume hood pilot competition, which enhanced lab safety while achieving significant energy savings. Additionally, BCH's partnership with Polycarbin to pilot a lab plastics recycling program addresses the growing challenge of reducing single-use plastic waste in research environments. Lessons learned include stakeholder engagement, overcoming institutional barriers, and using data to drive behavioral change. The presentation will provide actionable insights, sharing best practices for integrating sustainability in complex healthcare and research settings while balancing operational efficiency with environmental stewardship. Attendees will gain practical strategies and inspiration to advance their sustainability goals, with BCH offering a replicable model for fostering impactful, long-term sustainability in laboratory environments.
From Green Initiatives to Green Savings: Behavior Change at the University of Alabama Birmingham
The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Green Labs program selected labs that were up for recertification to undergo energy audits to determine how much energy the labs save through various behavioral changes. Each lab was given a special laboratory walkthrough after a presentation, asking them to make various behavioral changes. Using the Impact Estimator from My Green Lab, various pieces of equipment had energy estimates. If the lab turned off that item consistently, the kWh was then calculated to see how much was saved by keeping that item turned off. To get a better understanding of the UAB Green Lab's program impact, the square footage was taken from each lab as well. The average lab (across 33 labs) saved $3.9 per square foot. This metric can then be used to estimate future impacts of Green Labs on campus. This energy audit helped inspire additional change by the research labs. Previously they could only see how much waste was being diverted from their labs. But with the energy audit, they received follow-up emails showing how many houses could be powered by the estimated kWh they saved. This helped encourage more participation from labs because they were finally able to conceptualize how much of an impact they were having by just completing various behavioral changes. Even without the estimates from My Green Lab, other universities can copy this model to show both researchers and leadership the significant impact that green labs has.
Strengthening Green Labs Through Education and Community
As a leading research institution, Penn State equips faculty and student researchers with critical skills for the workplace. However, sustainability is often missing as an intentional lens in laboratory operations. The Penn State Sustainable Lab program is addressing this gap by going beyond green lab "certification" and developing a robust support infrastructure to provide ongoing education, engagement, and leadership support. Now in its third year, the program has evolved into a structured, cohort-based model that integrates regular lab communications, educational series, leadership team visits, and a dedicated digital platform to enhance engagement. Utilizing tools from the My Green Lab certification program, insights from the Big Ten and Friends Green Labs network, and best practices from I2SL, Penn State is working to institutionalize sustainability in research labs through a scalable, systems-based approach. This session will explore the key strategies that have contributed to the program's growth, including structured outreach, a centralized Teams site, mid-year lab visits, and ongoing training opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into the challenges and successes of implementing a comprehensive support system and leave with practical strategies for fostering a culture of sustainability in their own institutions.
A3 Sustainable Design | Occupant Concerns/WELL Buildings
Beyond Compliance: Designing Accessible and High-Performance Labs
Creating accessible laboratory environments isn't just about checking boxes—it's about fostering inclusive, high-performing research spaces. Thoughtful design enhances usability for students, researchers, and faculty while ensuring labs remain fully functional and compliant. This session will explore accessibility through the dual lenses of regulatory requirements and institutional risk, providing a framework for consistent, informed decision-making. Speakers will discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise when designing for accessibility in labs, addressing common misconceptions, and demonstrating how compliance can lead to better design outcomes. Through real-world case studies, speakers will examine practical solutions that integrate accessibility without compromising the specialized functionality of lab spaces. In many cases, these adaptations improve the overall usability and efficiency of the environment, benefiting a broader range of users.
A WELL-Planned Lab
Incorporating sustainability into decisions is becoming a standard consideration when starting any project, and laboratory spaces are no different. Two popular green certifications that guide these decisions are LEED and WELL. In this rapidly changing world, companies are prioritizing their core asset--the people--as healthier, happier people perform better. The WELL building standard is a performance-based rating system that measures attributes of buildings that impact the health, comfort, and knowledge of occupants through design, operations, and behavior, and promote healthy eating, physical activity, and cognitive health. WELL is intended to bridge the gap between evidence-based medical research and best practices in design and construction. A laboratory design incorporating WELL design principles will address safety concerns, enhance productivity, improve employee health and provide positive user experience. In this presentation, the attendees will learn about the WELL building standard, and how its features can be applied to lab projects by incorporating design elements that prioritize these aspects to create a healthier work environment for lab users, minimizing potential health risks associated with lab work while enhancing productivity and overall well-being.
Healthy Materials and Clean Construction: Updating Gilead's Sustainable Construction Verification Process
Explore Gilead's innovative approach to sustainable construction with their new laboratory project in Foster City, California, aiming for LEED Gold and International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Zero Carbon certifications. This session will take a deep dive into the construction administration process, discussing sustainable materials procurement, contractor embodied carbon tracking and verification, reducing transportation emissions and decarbonizing construction equipment. We will also discuss how project level strategies are integrated in Gilead's wider ESG and climate goals. We address critical questions such as the selection of building materials for public health and carbon goals, the gold standard for contractors on zero carbon projects, and how a ILFI Zero Carbon and LEED Gold laboratory compares to the upcoming LEED v5 standards.
A4 System Optimization | Case Studies in HVAC Improvement
Energy-Efficient HVAC Filtration: An Easy Way to Achieve Greener Labs
Gilead's La Verne facility is a 330,000 ft2 production facility in Los Angeles, where they manufacture, package pharmaceutical products. The company develops innovative medicines for the future and is strongly committed to sustainability. The facility's HVAC system was targeted for energy reduction, and in particular the QC Laboratory areas of the facility. Fan motors on eight air handler units (AHUs) were continuously monitored for electrical power usage over a period of 6-8 months, establishing a baseline power usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The intermediate (MERV 13) and final (MERV14) filters were then changed over to a different filter style, a style intended to reduce air flow resistance and reduce the electricity used by the AHU fan motors. Power usage before and after the filter change were compared to determine savings. Analysis of the results indicates that Gilead is saving 200,000 kWh per year for their entire facility, conservatively estimated at $20,000 savings per year (assuming $0.10 per kWh). The QC Labs alone saw a reduction of 49,000 kWh/year, a 9 percent reduction, representing the largest savings area in the facility. Filter lifetime was also extended, with the filters now requiring changeout only once every 3 years, which is reducing the amount of used filters sent to their landfill and reducing labor costs. Since the filters are all standard sizes, the project implementation was easy, low-risk, and required no capital expenditure.
Optimizing HVAC Performance and Biosafety in an Operational BSL-3 Lab: The SEBLAB Renovation Success Story
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Southeastern Biosafety Laboratory (SEBLAB), a critical BSL-3 research facility, underwent major HVAC upgrades to enhance safety, reliability, and energy efficiency. Funded by a 2021 grant, the project included retrofitting AHU supply fans, replacing high plume exhaust fans, upgrading control valves to direct digital controls, and modifying the HEPA-filtered exhaust system to improve maintenance and research operations. Renovating an active BSL-3 facility while maintaining biosafety protocols posed challenges. A phased approach utilizing AHU redundancy and scheduled shutdowns minimized downtime and research disruptions. A full-building decontamination—unprecedented for SEBLAB—further reduced contamination risks and informed new facility procedures. Innovative HVAC control strategies were introduced, including a customized exhaust fan methodology to maintain constant velocity and negative pressure, enhancing system resiliency. Heat recovery optimization increased energy savings by reclaiming more heat from the exhaust air stream. Close coordination between engineers, facility managers, and research staff ensured project success, improving system performance, reliability, and efficiency. SEBLAB now serves as a model for BSL-3 HVAC renovations, demonstrating best practices in risk mitigation, sustainability, and system optimization.
Renovation of Vivarium Air Flow Controls on Campus for Energy Efficiency and Reduced Work Orders
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has experienced component failure, product end of life, reduced exhaust capacity, and maintenance issues with the existing air flow control systems at the RC1 Vivarium. The RC1 building prior to the air valve controls renovation and other energy improvement measures has an I2SL Lab Benchmark Energy Score of 56 and Operational Emissions Score of 27. The University won $3.7M in State Controlled Maintenance funding, with another $1.3M due in 2025. After exploring the available technologies and a pilot project in 2018 using an air valve with a low pressure drop, self-cleaning, no maintenance, and dual blades, the university selected this air flow control system for the campus and has installed over 300 air valves. The original air valves from the pilot project have not been touched since the installation. Replacing another 321 air valves in an active vivarium, requires meticulous phasing with the end user with limited downtime and air valve technology that can be completely pre-programmed prior to delivery to the site. This presentation identifies the issues with the existing air flow control system, discusses the different air valve technologies, explains the funding challenges for temporary conditions, provides lessons learned on the discrepancy of AALAC reports, the time savings of pre-programming, remote commissioning, and the benefits of the energy savings and noise reduction with the new air flow control system.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
