{"id":30211,"date":"2026-03-05T11:34:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T16:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sustainability\/?post_type=how-to&p=30211"},"modified":"2026-07-17T13:19:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T17:19:41","slug":"make-labs-greener","status":"publish","type":"how-to","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sustainability\/how-to\/make-labs-greener\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Labs Greener"},"content":{"rendered":"

Green Labs at BU<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Want to stay up to date on Green Labs at BU? Click\u00a0<\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to be added to our mailing list to learn more!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>goal of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>G<\/span>reen\u00a0<\/span><\/span>L<\/span>abs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Initiative\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>reduc<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>BU’s costs<\/span>, waste,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and emissions around laboratory research practices. This program\u00a0<\/span><\/span>focus<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on several common practices in the laboratory setting, sharing information through Sustainability Labs Champions, workshops, EHS inspections, and other means.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Initiative is a partnership between BU Sustainability, CAMED RISC committee, EHS, Procure2Pay, and Risk Management.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The various programs below will support your journey toward greener laboratory practices. Join your colleagues to reduce energy and waste.<\/p>\n

ULT Freezer Replacement Incentive Program <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Upgrading to a new ultra-low temperature\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(ULT)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>freezer enhances the protection of valuable, often irreplaceable research samples, reduces the University\u2019s energy consumption, and ensures\u00a0<\/span><\/span>optimal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>insurance coverage for the research community. The University and BU Sustainability offered this rebate program February 2025-June 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This program<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a collaborative effort on behalf of Procure to Pay, Sustainability, Environmental Health & Safety, and Risk Management, with funding from the Medical Campus deans, the Office of Research, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>BU\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sustainability. This program has ended; however, discounted pricing through Fisher is available through December 2026.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Freezer Maintenance Program (EHS)<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Proper use and maintenance of a ULT freezer helps ensure it functions reliably. Boston University through EHS established a <\/span>preventative maintenance program<\/span><\/a> to help prevent freezer failures and to protect the valuable research materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each freezer in the SciSure (formerly SciShield) equipment inventory will have preventative maintenance performed twice each year. It is important to update the inventory and notify the ULT Freezer Coordinator whenever a new freezer is added to a laboratory or when it is moved to a new location. The preventative maintenance will be performed by a qualified external contractor certified for this work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Styrofoam Cooler Recycling at BUMC<\/h2>\n

Styrofoam coolers collected across the BU Medical Campus are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>consolidated<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in designated bins\u00a0<\/span><\/span>located<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>r<\/span>ecycling\u00a0<\/span><\/span>r<\/span>oom at the 15 Stoughton St. loading dock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>All tape and labels must be removed before\u00a0<\/span><\/span>colle<\/span>c<\/span>tion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What happens to the coolers?<\/h4>
<\/p>\n

After collection, the material is transported to Casella\u2019s local densifier. There, the Styrofoam is compressed into heavy, solid blocks, significantly reducing its volume. These blocks are then sent to manufacturers who repurpose the material into new products, such as:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n