What Is the Challenge?

The Challenge will focus on a shut-the-sash competition held in each participating building, with points given for successful outreach and savings results. Each building will select a Challenge coordinator who manages the Challenge tasks, coordinates with local teams, and submits data to I2SL. Crucially, the Challenge will also highlight the connection of the fume hoods to the building’s ventilation systems; coordinators will engage both facilities and safety personnel in Challenge activities.

Participation is free! I2SL plans to launch the Challenge in early 2027, with the winners recognized at the I2SL Annual Conference in September. Those interested in participating can fill out a form to receive updates and be notified when sign-up opens.

How Will Labs Compete in the Challenge?

Participants may structure their shut-the-sash competitions and select local winners as they choose. Because fume hoods are part of a lab building’s broader safety and ventilation systems, the I2SL Fume Hood Challenge will judge entries at the whole-building level.

Note: Space in Year 1 of the Challenge will be limited, so you should choose just one or two buildings to participate. Participants can focus on buildings with higher potential impact, based on occupant interest, hood density, and the performance of system controls.

Challenge activities at each participating building will include:

Collecting basic information on the building, its fume hoods, and its energy use.
Coordinating with facilities and safety personnel and, where possible, performing HVAC response tests to understand the impact of sash behavior on building systems and energy use.
Educating users on the safe, appropriate, and efficient use of fume hoods.
Conducting a shut-the-sash competition to encourage users to close hood sashes whenever feasible, and selecting and recognizing local winners.
Sharing the results of the shut-the-sash competition with I2SL.
Exploring opportunities for further energy savings, such as hood hibernation or HVAC controls improvements.

Participants will use online forms and free software tools from I2SL (the Lab Benchmarking Tool and the AIM Report) to report building data and obtain savings estimates. Participating buildings’ performance will be evaluated based on how effectively they implemented the preparation, competition, and reporting steps of the Challenge, and on the results achieved and efforts to identify further opportunities. I2SL will provide detailed instructions, guides, and FAQs.

Because participants will have varying levels of access to building automation systems and facility data, and because building systems differ in their levels of readiness and sophistication, the Challenge will recognize buildings at different levels of participation and data collection capabilities.

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