Our achievements: labs

• Success stories: The Faculty of Life Sciences and UniGreenScheme
  How the Faculty of Life Sciences prevented 9.7 tonnes of waste by selling redundant equipment through UniGreenScheme.
• Institutional LEAF: The Crucial Role of Technical Staff
  Technical Staff played an extremely important role in helping achieve institutional Green Lab Certification.
• University of Bristol’s 900 laboratories receive green status in world first
  All laboratories in our 14 STEM Schools have gained 100% LEAF certification and we can now call ourselves ‘the first university in the world to gain institutional Green Lab Certification’.
• Institutional LEAF Progress
  All of our 14 STEM Schools have gained 100% LEAF certification and we can now call ourselves ‘the first university in the world to gain institutional Green Lab Certification’.
• Freezer Challenge 2020 Award
  Congratulations to Southmead Learning & Research (L&R) Centre for winning the Freezer Challenge 2020 award for the ‘Top individual laboratory for the academic lab category’. The centre’s laboratory sustainability achievements are thanks to the fantastic efforts of Emma Foose and the L&R Technical Team.
• Flicking the Switch: Reducing Campus Carbon Footprint during Lockdown
  We have been working to ensure that the University’s energy consumption, carbon footprint and utility costs are kept to the absolute minimum during lockdown.
• Biomedical Sciences Building Awarded 100% LEAF Accreditation
  The University of Bristol’s Biomedical Sciences Building gained 100% Green Lab Accreditation for the second year running, upholding its title as the UK's largest, green accredited research building.
• Schools of Earth Sciences and Geography achieve 100% Green Lab Certification
  Earth Sciences and Geography have become our first Schools in 2020 to achieve 100% Green Lab Certification. This brings the University closer to our goal of institutional LEAF Certification across all our STEM labs.
• Bristol Be-LEAFs in Sustainable Science
  Over a fifth of lab space from the University of Bristol participated in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) 2019, saving an estimated 92 tonnes of carbon.
• Bright Ideas
  Smart lighting installed in the Biomedical Sciences Building’s virology suite offers improved adaptability while reducing energy consumption, maintenance and consumables costs.
• Keeping our cool
  Recirculating chillers installed in our Schools of Chemistry and Physics will save us 25,000m3 of water, the equivalent of ten Olympic swimming pools, and £50,000 a year in utility bills.
• Growing plants with LEDs
  The Life Sciences Building used low energy, low heat LED lighting to grow plants in the rooftop GroDome.
• Hydrologists go green
  A group of hydrologists took their interest in the local environment to the next level with a quiet and growing green space.
• Hanging inefficient equipment out to dry
  A lab equipment replacement project that minimises environmental footprint by 65%, and saves £38,000 in energy costs.
• Encouraging behaviour change in laboratories
  Taking responsibility for small routine tasks, such as unplugging equipment and shutting fume hoods reduces environmental impact of laboratories.