Green Labs
The mission of the UCR’s Green Labs group is to promote the reduction of the energy and resource waste created by laboratories at UCR without disturbing the objectives of research. Green Labs works with lab managers, principal investigators, and lab staff workers to guide their laboratories into becoming energy efficient and sustainable.
Our Mission
The mission of the UCR’s Green Labs group is to promote the reduction of the energy and resource waste created by laboratories at UCR without disturbing the objectives of research. Green Labs works with lab managers, principal investigators, and lab staff workers to guide their laboratories into becoming energy efficient and sustainable.
We aim to:
- Educate lab personnel on lab waste and sustainable agriculture
- Understand barriers to green lab practice
- Offer easy and effortless options to reduce waste with little buy-in from researchers
- Empower researchers to be strong advocates for sustainability
- Create lab space that promotes sustainable practices.
Our Initiatives:
- Building wide interactive workshops for educating and discussing green labs and barriers to sustainable science
- Sustainable Science online modules in collaboration with EH&S
- Research Building recycling programs including all non-hazardous plastics, gloves, and styrofoam
- Green Labs certification program
- Reducing Material Waste (Sharing program, don’t buy in bulk)
- North American Freezer Challenge
- Freezer rebate programs
- Incentives and discounts for participants at every level!
Why Make Your Labs a Green Lab?
- Reduces waste, energy, and water consumption
- Improves environmental and personal health
- Prolongs equipment life and reduces equipment failures
- Saves money
UCR Green Labs References and Resources
Contacts
UCR Office of Sustainability
Phone Number: (951) 827-6558
Email: sustainability@ucr.edu
UCR Environmental Health and Safety
Phone Number: https://ehs.ucr.edu/about/whodoicall.html
Email: ehs@ucr.edu
Freezers
Freezer Challenge
https://www.freezerchallenge.org/
Evidence that Storing Microorganisms at -70 Degrees is Safe
https://jcm.asm.org/content/jcm/42/3/1257.full.pdf
Evidence of Storing Protein at -70 Degrees is Safe
https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-511X-11-53
Spreadsheet of Samples Being Stored at -70 Degrees
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13UvBeoXAhwSHshSYoUDHwcxWiW7qYLnUb-eLwxJbCYs/edit#gid=0
Evidence of Storing DNA at -20 Degrees
Sustainability in Labs
University Alliance Group - Explores ways to connect sustainability to research finances
http://www.i2sl.org/working/university_alliance.html
Best Practice Guide
http://www.i2sl.org/resources/toolkit.html
US Department to Energy Better Buildings Laboratory Technology Solutions Team
MyGreenLab
Sustainable UMD
https://sustainability.umd.edu/get-involved/students/green-labs
Infographics for Your Labs
Paper Recycling
Metal and Plastic Recycling
Mix Recycling
Ways to be More Sustainable
Cold Storage Maintenance Checklist
Recycle Your Lids