Going Green EconomicallyIncorporating green initiatives should be thought of as a smart business strategy that not only helps the environment but also saves laboratories money.
Manufacturers have begun employing green processes that result in products with price tags comparable to non-green models. | by Erin P.T. Canning
In an ideal world, everyone would be environmentally responsible because it’s the right thing to do. Realistically, we live in a world where most decisions are based on economics. The key is to combine these attitudes so that going green becomes a clever business strategy.
In the past, manufacturers were hesitant to invest in environmentally friendly products because of the cost premium associated with more efficient technologies. The additional cost to make green versions of freezers or biosafety cabinets, for example, resulted in a higher sales price, which deterred researchers with tight budgets. “The added capital equipment cost, however, is outweighed by its reduced operating cost over the life of the equipment,” says Mark Meinders, product specialist with Labconco Corp.
Furthermore, many manufacturers have employed green initiatives within their companies to improve manufacturing procedures, resulting in products with price tags comparable to non-green models and that save labs money over time.
“By reducing waste, reducing the amount of solids you put into your product, and reducing the amount of product required for a desired level of performance, you get a great business process. You can squeeze a tremendous amount of cost out of your total system,” says Randy Kates, general manager, Global Scientific Business, Kimberly-Clark Professional.
Getting Started
With going green becoming a win-win situation, the next question is: Where does one begin?
“If not focused, you can easily get lost trying to do the right thing,” says Kates.
Jennifer Young, program manager with the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, recommends labs start with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry—a list created in 2000 by Paul Anastas, director of Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry, and John Warner, president of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, to help researchers identify green methods suited for their lab.
Some of these principles include waste prevention, real-time analysis to eliminate byproducts, and choosing safer solvents and auxiliaries. Using less toxic chemicals requires less hazardous material-handling equipment, says Young.
Kates suggests labs focus on solid waste and energy usage—the former because it’s “tangible, tactical and you can do it tomorrow by changing your behavior” and the latter because it will have a significant impact on the environment. He adds that choosing areas where both managers and researchers are enthusiastic is important to help drive the programs forward.
Waste not, want not
There are many ways labs can reduce waste, such as adopting green methodologies that address chemical use and consumption. As the 12 Principles state, preventing waste is better than having to clean it up or treat it afterward.
One solution is to avoid purchasing more chemicals than may be needed for an experiment, which also spares labs from having to pay for disposing of the excess properly, states Millipore’s David Newman, director of EHS & Sustainability. “It also might be possible to set up a chemical swap program to share excess chemicals with another lab that needs them, rather than disposing of them as a waste.”
Kimberly-Clark Professional’s Sterling Nitrile Gloves reduce solid waste by 40% because of their packaging and design. | Solvent-less methods, such as solid phase micro extraction (SPME), also offer environmental and cost-saving benefits. While being a sensitive technique that requires experienced users with an eye for detail, SPME can handle multiple samples with one fiber and no solvent, says Daniel Vitkuske, sample prep and purification marketing manager with Supelco.
On the other hand, a scientist using solid phase extraction (SPE) needs to use one device and one syringe, if not reusable, per sample, producing more waste over time. Even if working with reusable syringes, explains Vitkuske, this scientist would need ~10 mL of solvent to clean out each syringe, which quickly multiplies to 1 L every 100 tests.
For another possibility, scientists can look into buying products that promote waste reduction. For example, Kimberly-Clark Professional utilizes proprietary technology to make their Sterling Nitrile Gloves as strong as competitive gloves yet thinner and more consistent from fingertip to cuff, says Carolina Krevolin, category manager of the company’s scientific gloves. In doing so, more gloves fit inside each box, decreasing solid waste by 40% due to packaging and the glove’s design.
According to Kates, a lab using 25 boxes per month can save up to a ton of waste per year using the exam gloves and up to 1.4 tons of waste using the cleanroom gloves, compared to standard latex versions. Furthermore, these green gloves are priced competitively within their market, providing customers with an economical product with environmental benefits. The company also plans to make these gloves recyclable or reusable in the future.
AirClean Systems’ Independence ductless fume hood features an energy conservation mode that enables a pre-set system timeout after inactivity. | Saving Energy
When it comes to saving energy, scientists can start by making sure all equipment, computers and lights are turned off during non-business hours. Stickers can even be used as reminders, says Millipore’s Newman. “Some of these things are easy to fix and can make a big difference.”
“Conducting an energy and waste audit can highlight a lot of opportunities,” he adds, suggesting lab managers buy a Kill A Watt meter from P3 International. Researchers simply plug their equipment into the monitor, and the LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt-hour, enabling users to calculate their electrical expenses by day, week, month or year.
But when it comes to wasted energy, everyone knows the real culprit is the fume hood. One solution for this energy-hog lies in learning to use the equipment correctly, whether by reading the manual or learning from the laboratory manager. For example, remembering to leave the sash down when the fume hood is not in use prevents conditioned air from being exhausted outside.
AirClean Systems’ new Independence ductless fume hood addresses this and other environmental concerns. “While conventional ductless fume hoods require less energy than traditional exhaust hoods, our new Independence has a standby feature that reduces energy consumption by 50% compared with our earlier models of the same size,” says Greg Dobbyn, president of AirClean Systems.
Featuring a built-in energy consumption monitor, the Independence enables managers to check electrical use and vapor-proof fluorescent lighting. After a period of inactivity, an energy conservation mode enables a pre-set system timeout. This mode also uses the minimal electricity required to keep face velocity at 100 LFM, turns off electrical outlets, and automatically lowers the sash, allowing the blowers to run slower.
Labconco’s Paramount ductless fume hood consumes the energy equal to operating a standard light bulb. | “A typical fume hood consumes as much energy in a given year as three U.S. households,” says Labconco’s Meinders. “Our Paramount ductless fume hood consumes the energy equal to operating a standard light bulb.”
The Paramount uses carbon filtration to trap chemical vapors and eliminate the need for room exhaust. Suited for light-duty chemical use, the unit is also less expensive to purchase, install, and operate, offering labs tremendous savings.
“A ductless fume hood installation typically costs far less than a traditional exhaust hood,” says Dobbyn. “The ongoing operational cost of filter replacement is much less than the cost of energy to heat and cool the ‘make up’ air for traditional systems.”
Following suit, Labconco’s Purifier Logic biosafety cabinet employs an electronically commutated motor (ECM) on the cabinet’s internal blower or fan. According to Meinders, this produces 40% more torque and 50% less electricity than an equally sized conventional motor. In addition, the ECM runs cooler, reducing the amount of heat generated within a lab, which reduces the load on the air conditioning.
Green fume hoods are also competitively priced across the market because most manufacturers are looking to incorporate energy-efficient designs, says Meinders.
The decision each laboratory must make then is whether to purchase an older model, and thus older technology, that is less expensive to buy but more expensive to run and maintain.
“While going green may cost you a premium now, you’ll realize far greater savings in the long run with reduced operating costs. That’s really the biggest benefit from green products in addition to their environmental impact,” says Meinders.
Additional help
More opportunities are being made available for labs to become sustainable. If still overwhelmed by the possibilities, researchers can turn to consulting services, recommends Meinders. Many agencies exist across various industries so the key is to research them via the Internet and chose one with lab experience.
Scientists can also talk to their waste vendor, facilities manager, or environment, health and safety manager, suggests Millipore’s Newman. “Sometimes brainstorming among coworkers and going to these groups with ideas for improvement can be a great approach. Many universities, colleges and private industry have offices that can help conduct audits and implement solutions.”
Whatever avenue you choose, “don’t stop until you believe going green has a positive business impact on your process in the lab,” says Supelco’s Kates. Those initiatives should be undertaken with the mindset that, “I’m not only going to do the right thing from an environmental standpoint, but I’m also going to improve my process and output and ideally reduce my operating costs.”
For more information, contact:
AirClean Systems, www.aircleansystems.com,
800-849-0472
Kimberly-Clark Professional, www.kcprofessional.com, 888-346-4652
Labconco Corp., www.labconco.com, 800-821-5525
Millipore, www.millipore.com, 978-715-4321
Supelco, www.sigmaaldrich.com, 800-325-3010
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