The Freezer Challenge is an internationally recognised scheme that aims to improve cold storage performance and longevity, save energy, and reduce lab GHG emissions. Actions implemented through the cold storage competition are estimated to save the L&R centre an impressive 548 kWh/day. The technical team have a long-standing commitment to laboratory sustainability and achieved Gold Green Lab Certification this year via the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF). LEAF also includes cold storage management criteria that could be ticked-off at the same time. The LEAF calculator tool estimates that the lab saved approximately £6,387 and 12.5 tonnes of CO₂ this year on cold storage alone.

STEM buildings are responsible for 40% of the University’s energy consumption despite only occupying 6% of total space. Cold storage units are one of the most energy-intensive aspects of a lab with an average ultralow temperature freezer (ULT) consuming as much energy as a small house (~20 kWh/day)! Through initiatives such as the Freezer Challenge and LEAF, simple management practices can massively reduce the environmental impact of cold storage units: defrosting (~10% energy savings); replacing old models for more energy-efficient units (up to 70% savings); cleaning out superfluous samples to make space and operating ULTs at –70 °C (40% savings). The Southmead L&R technicians manage 175 cold storage units and found that a big part of the Freezer Challenge was ‘warming up’ and safely increased four ULT freezers from –80 °C to –70 °C.

In recognition of their efforts, the L&R technical team have been invited to attend a virtual award ceremony for the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge at the International Institute for Sustainable Labs Conference. The Freezer Challenge also offers laboratories the chance to win prizes including an energy efficient ULT freezer.

The Green Labs Team asked the L&R technicians if they would take part in the programme again, “Definitely! Cold storage needs to be one of our key focuses as the University works towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and the Freezer Challenge is a really useful tool to getting there”.

If you want to help the University of Bristol meet its climate targets and become the next International Freezer Challenge institutional winner, sign-up to Freezer Challenge 2021.