Sustainable Laboratory Design:Challenges and Solutions

Stephen P. Mead, Ph.D.College of Engineering

Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, Arizona USAPhone: 928.213.8140

E-mail: stephen.mead@nau.edu

The Modern Laboratory Building

Laboratory Sustainability Challenges

Laboratory spaces use 5 –10 times more energy per square foot than the typical office building.

Significant Plug/Process Loads: 20–100 watts/sf

Bio-Safety / Ventilation Requirements

Toxic waste

Prodigious Water Use

Government initiative to improve the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories.

Improving energy and water efficiency, encouraging renewable energy sources, and promoting environmental stewardship in laboratories.

Three components:

• Partnership program

• Training

• Tool kit

Labs 21 Approach

Adopt voluntary goals.

Assess opportunities from a “whole buildings” approach.

Use life-cycle cost analysis as an important decision-making tool.

Incorporate a comprehensive, whole building commissioning process into new construction and retrofit projects.

Employ a range of energy and water efficiency strategies.

Labs 21 Approach (cont’d)

Measure energy and water consumption and track emission reductions.

Evaluate on-site power generation, combined heat and power technologies, and renewable power purchases.

Build with “green” construction materials.

Promote energy and water efficiency efforts.

Applied Research and Development Facility (ARD)

LABS 21 Pilot Project

Create Plug and Play Research Space

Promote collaboration between disciplines.

Create new technologies and incubate new businesses

Attain LEED Platinum Designation

Moving Toward Sustainability:Some Specific Solutions

Efficient HVAC distribution systems

Right Size Equipment

Day lighting

High Performance Fume Hoods

• More than 500,000 fume hoods in U.S.

• Push / Pull Design uses 50% less energy

• Annual Energy Savings: $2100

Phyto-Remediation

“Living Machine”

Biomass Energy

• Fuel Source: Small Diameter Ponderosa Pine

• Cogeneration: Steam & Electricity

• Meets LEED Requirements for renewable energy

Creating Feedback Loops

• Whole Building Commissioning

• Data Collection / Visualization

Questions?