Freezer Challenge Competition for best practices in laboratories
19 April 2018
Photo: I2SL/My green lab
NEW: Registration is prolongued - the challenge ends on July 1, 2018.
The international competition Freezer Challenge honours best practice measures for the effective storage of samples and the energy-saving management of freezers and refrigerators. At European level, the competition is supported by the "European Society for Sustainable Laboratories" (EGNATON). The best European teams will be invited to the EGNATON Conference 2018. In addition, the magazine "Laborpraxis" reports on this topic.
The idea:
The Freezer Challenge has already been held twice in the USA and has yielded impressive results: a total of 200 laboratories took part, saving a total of 2.7 million kWh of energy and 1,900 metric tons of CO2 and disposing of approximately 200,000 unnecessary samples. The competition, which was launched on an international level in October 2017, is aimed at employees from laboratories and institutes all over the world. These are called upon to try out and implement the various measures, to improve their own energy balance and thus save resources.
The background:
After the fume cupboards, freezers are the biggest energy consumers in a laboratory. Simple measures can significantly reduce energy consumption. This includes, for example, raising the operating temperature from the usual -80°C to -70°C, regular maintenance and care of the instruments, well-organised sample management or the use of methods that allow molecular biological samples to be stored at room temperature.
Learn more about the Freezer Challenge:
- A detailed article with background information and tips on what the individual can do was published in the December issue of Laborpraxis.
- Flyer with all relevant information
- Information about the international competition, registration and all further information
- Winner of the Freezer Challenge 2017
