Mass Save Programs & Lab Sustainability: The Possibilities for Energy Efficient Life Sciences Equipment

The environmental impact of life sciences research is significant. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports that lab energy consumption is ten times that of equivalent office space. Many equipment manufacturers are offering reportedly sustainable choices, but quantifying, qualifying, and organizing that data can be challenging. Additionally, lab budgets may not necessarily account for the expenses of purchasing more energy efficient equipment, which is often positioned at a premium price point, or requires decommissioning and replacement of older, but functioning, equipment.

The sponsors of Mass Save, a Massachusetts’ energy efficiency program, provide rebates to help defray these costs for lab cold storage equipment, HVAC equipment, water heaters, lighting, and commercial food service equipment. As there is a lack of empirical data on the energy usage of other life sciences equipment, Energy Solutions conducted a market study on behalf of the sponsors of Mass Save, with the primary goal of triaging equipment categories for future plug load studies to develop an understanding of baseline energy consumption.

The study interviewed industry experts and examined existing research and manufacturer literature to better understand the energy savings potential throughout the Massachusetts life sciences sector. Energy Solutions explored the installed equipment base and impact of lab equipment, including: autoclaves, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, glassware washers, and incubators.

The proposed presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Save midstream incentive program for laboratory cold storage equipment and discuss the savings potential of additional life sciences equipment. Utility incentives, end user education, and market partnerships have helped labs nationwide adopt energy-efficient cold storage equipment and shifted the market towards more sustainable practices. Our goal is to repeat this success for other essential lab devices.