With the multitudes of green methods and practices available to labs today, it’s simply a waste not to take full advantage of them. We recently discussed the growing prevalence of this technology on college campuses in our blog MSU Green Chemistry Finds Renewable Energy in Biowaste. This week, the University of Illinois at Chicago joins the scene with a revamping of their Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex focused on energy efficiency and conservation.
The infrastructure changes will span four laboratory buildings and an adjacent office building, which together comprise over 1.2 million square feet. These buildings are from the 1960s and so are especially in need of an upgrade. The impressive part of these changes is their green focus; in total, the remodels will prevent the release of 9219 metric tons of carbon dioxide. For reference, this is equivalent to taking 1921 cars off the road or planting 71 acres of trees. According to UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares in a Wall Street Journal article, the most important part of the project is that “it supports UIC's Climate Action Plan and will help meet our goal to reduce our carbon emissions at least 80 percent by 2050.”
(The Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex, courtesy of UIC)
Another noteworthy benefit of the plan is the amount of energy it will save, which is projected at 81 million kilowatt-hours. This is enough to power about 2500 homes, according to associate chancellor for sustainability Cynthia Klein-Banai. This meets the university’s more immediate goal of reducing energy consumption by at least 20% by 2015. This goal is shared by the city of Chicago as well, as reflected in the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Chicago 2015 Action Agenda.
Among the renovations for the Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex are new and recommissioned air handling units, HVAC control systems and equipment, chilled beam, high-performance fume hoods, lighting retrofits, weatherization of the building envelope, and energy recovery systems.
(Some snapshots of the Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex at UIC, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the University of Illinois)
The remodeling taking place at UIC is an excellent example of bringing green technology to cutting-edge labs. Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. fully supports research geared toward a greener future and hosts a selection of Green Chemistry Shows™ with a focus on highlighting laboratory products that minimize waste and maximize efficiency. To obtain more detailed information regarding funding, research, and development at UIC, read Biotechnology Calendar’s complimentary University of Illinois, Chicago Funding and Vendor Statistics report.
Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. makes an appearance at the University of Illinois Chicago campus each year for its Chicago BioResearch Product Faire™. If you're in the area, we also host the Urbana-Champaign Bioresearch Product Faire™ on the UIUC campus. Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. is a full service event company that has produced on-campus, life science research trade shows nationwide for the past 20 years. If you are a university researcher or a laboratory product vendor, consider attending one of our on-campus trade shows: here is our 2013 schedule of shows.