CU Green Labs Program

The CU Green Labs Program serves a critical need on campus by addressing the resource-intensive and costly nature of laboratories. Research buildings are responsible for over 40% of campus building energy consumption. The program is leading and collaborating on efficiency and sustainability best practices in labs and inspiring a shift towards eco-friendly research operations at CU Boulder and beyond.

Laboratories are important centers of intellectual innovation and discovery. They also leave a significant environmental footprint and consume large amounts of resources. The CU Green Labs Program has placed a special emphasis on conservation in laboratory operations since its creation in 2009. The Environmental Center and Facilities Management jointly funds the program. 

In 2017, Facilities Management reported that major laboratory research buildings at CU Boulder occupy 22% of campus square footage but were responsible for 43% of campus energy use. CU has approximately 500 laboratories on its Boulder campus.

Cost Avoidance and Other Benefits

• CU Green Labs vision for lab optimization will help campus avoid and minimize the need for construction of new lab space. 
• By engaging scientists to take direct actions for energy and water savings in labs such as choosing efficient equipment and implementing efficient practices, the CU Green Labs Program is connected to electricity & water cost avoidance totaling $1.3 million from 2009-2022.
• In just one example, CU Green Labs helped a lab in need with a failed freezer holding samples collected on grants totaling $2.5 million dollars.
• The BioCore Shared Instruementation Program saved researchers ~$3 million in avoided equipment purchases between 2018-2022 and if expanded campus-wide is projected to save $4.5 million every year.
• The CU Green Labs program raises awareness about utility and infrastructure efficiency, including the importance of optimizing the use of existing fume hoods. By not adding a fume hood to a lab, the university will save about $30,000 and $3000/year on average in ongoing energy costs.
• With the urgency of climate change and the resource-intensive nature of scientific research, CU Green Labs will benefit campus’ ability to attract and retain talented students & researchers.

Metrics

2009-2023

   Electricity Savings: 13.1 GWh | $1.44 million at $0.11/kWh

   Water Savings: 73 million gallons | $177,000 at $2.42/Kgal

   Lab Solid Waste Diversion: 500,000 lbs

   Solvents Reused: 3,400 gallons

   Shared Equipment: $3 million in avoided purchases

CU Green Labs is known for its posters which share information on sustainability in lab environments and best practices.

 View Green Labs posters