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  • Case Studies

Laboratories for the 21st Century Case Studies

Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) case studies highlight sustainable features to enhance the energy-efficient design and operations of laboratories. Each case study provides a variety of sustainability concepts.

The Labs21 Featured Concepts Table outlines which technologies are covered in each case study.

• Fume Hood Sash Stickers Increases Laboratory Safety and Efficiency at Minimal Cost: FEMP case study covering two University of California campuses that increased laboratory exhaust efficiency and safety by using fume hood sash stickers.

• Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: State-of-the-art user facility for nanoscale materials on the research campus of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, California.

• Science and Technology Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Light-filled, energy-efficient research facility in Golden, Colorado, housing nine laboratories for advanced materials, synthesis, analysis, characterization, process development, and integration.

• Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laboratory in Ada, Oklahoma, that reduced energy consumption by 45% by upgrading mechanical systems, implementing a geothermal ground source heat pump, and other energy-efficient systems.

• Process and Environmental Technology Laboratory at Sandia National Laboratories: Laboratory design study detailing the reduction of energy consumption by 40% on the Sandia National Laboratories campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Louis Stokes Laboratories Building 50: National Institutes of Health laboratory in Bethesda, Maryland, demonstrating an aggressive approach to energy efficiency through daylighting, variable air volume control of the ventilation air supply and exhaust, and energy recovery from the exhaust air stream.

• National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory: EPA laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a track record of pushing the limit on energy-efficient operations within its mission of advancing clean vehicle fuels and technologies.

• Georgia Public Health Laboratory: Example of a bright, comfortable, energy-efficient laboratory in Decatur, Georgia, where more than 90 personnel conduct approximately 2.5 million tests each year in the areas of virology, parasitology, bacteriology, mycology, and immunology.

• Marian E. Koshland Integrated Natural Science Center at Haverford College: Research facility that promotes interactions within laboratories as well as among degree disciplines through laboratory space, classrooms, offices, and supporting areas to house all natural science departments.

• Whitehead Biomedical Research Building at Emory University: Large academic facility in Atlanta, Georgia, supporting three science departments within the School of Medicine while incorporating many energy-efficient and water-efficient design features.

• Donald Bren Hall at the University of California, Santa Barbara: Platinum-rated facility featuring many energy-efficient and environmentally sound features in Santa Barbara, California.

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: Energy and water efficiency features that result in 33% less electrical energy due to energy-efficient features in Seattle, Washington.

• Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise: Facility in St. Louis, Missouri, making excellent use of energy recovery and other design features that help offset a considerable amount of energy consumption.

• Pharmacia Building Q: World-class chemistry research facility in Skokie, Illinois, that integrates numerous energy-efficient, sustainable design features.