International Fume Hood Challenge

I2SL is planning a friendly competition among organizations that own and operate laboratories to improve safety and reduce energy use in fume hoods (or fume cupboards, as they are also known). By encouraging participation from public, private, and academic labs in the United States and across the globe, the Challenge will:

Promote safe and energy-efficient behaviors and improvements in the lab environment
Encourage collaboration on lab efficiency among researchers, facility managers, safety staff, green labs professionals, manufacturers, and service providers
Gather data and develop best practices on energy-saving technologies and behavior change initiatives for fume hoods and related lab systems
Ensure better, safer fume hood operation in research facilities to enhance sustainable science, energy efficiency, and cost savings

Volunteer for a Technical Advisory Group!

Currently under development, the I2SL International Fume Hood Challenge will score labs on variety of

activities to ensure safe and efficient use of fume hoods, including sash closure, monitoring, proper

operation, testing, and hibernation when not in use. Activities will also focus on the lab HVAC

systems that support fume hoods to ensure effective operation. Watch a video about what the

Challenge will entail here.

I2SL plans to launch the Challenge in early 2027; Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) are working

on various aspects of the program, and I2SL is accepting volunteers to work on those groups.

Challenge participants will be able to join for free and will enter data about each of their

participating lab buildings into the I2SL Lab Benchmarking Tool (LBT). Participating organizations

will be scored based on how effectively they prepare for, execute, and report results of a

shut-the-sash competition among their lab buildings, among other Challenge requirements.

I2SL will provide best practice guides on fume hood system testing, shut-the-sash competition ideas,

and tips for success free to any Challenge participants.

An I2SL Challenge Leadership Council oversees program development and the work of the TAGs. To join a TAG and get involved in developing program criteria or writing best practice guides, fill out an application form here.

I2SL is seeking sponsors interested in supporting development of the challenge; review the Sponsor Prospectus or contact Gordon Sharp at president@i2sl.org to learn more about sponsor levels and benefits.