Green Lab Certification
Program
What is a Green Lab Certification?
• An award for labs as leaders in campus sustainability
• A program used to:
• Provide resources to promote sustainable practices in
offices
• Encourage collaboration amongst offices and labs on
campus
10–25 points
26-50 points
51-75 points
>75 points
Why should your lab participate?
Public recognition for staff and
faculty engagement:
– Personal lab and office
assessments
– Pinpoint energy & waste reduction
opportunities
– Awards for all certified labs and
offices
First Certified Green Lab
Bovay Laboratory
Complex
Think
Big, Steps
Live
Green Lab
Certification
Green
1. Designate a Lab contact or Green Ambassador to facilitate the Green
Lab certification process.
2. Register your lab.
3. Use the Green Lab Resource Guides to complete your Green Lab
Application.
4. Schedule your Green Lab visit.
5. Get your certification!
Think
Big,Office
LiveChecklist
Green
2. Complete
the Green
• Focus Areas:
•
•
•
•
•
Chemicals
Waste
Energy Conservation
Research
Innovation
Skills for Achieving your Certification
• Team up with another lab to complete the
certification
• Focus on what you are already doing
FIRST
• Tackle one focus area at a time
Three Styles of “Green Chemistry”
• Chemistry which has environmental
applications (often published in ACS
Environmental Sciences and
Technology)
• Research which incorporates the 12
principles of Green Chemistry or
Green Engineering (often published
in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry &
Engineering)
• Activities which reduce the
environmental footprint of
laboratories themselves
(discussed at Labs-21 conferences)
Sustainable Labs & Green Chemistry
• GC theory was developed by Warner and Anastas in
the 1990’s as a way to prevent pollution.
• Picked up by EPA and ACS and promoted through
awards, grants and conferences.
• Includes educational outreach to high school and
college educators as well as researchers
(beyondbenign.org).
Green Chemistry and Engineering
• Green Engineering
framework has similar
principles
 Prevent generation of
waste.
 Reduce energy
consumption, minimize
excess.
 Material and energy
inputs should be
renewable rather than
depleting.
Sustainable Labs:
Equipment and Chemical Management
– Conserve electricity to reduce heat generated by lab
equipment;
Minimize ventilation needed to maintain temperature
set points and control chemicals;
Reduce hazardous chemicals used in the lab;
Manage cold storage well
Sustainable Labs- Social Media
• Cornell Lab Safety twitter feed:
@cornelllabsafe
• ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
@acsdchas
• Laboratory Sustainability News
@labsustain
Upcoming Events
Green Your Office
Thursday, October 17th
12:00pm – 1:00pm
310 Rhodes Hall
SWAP It Out!
Thursday, October 24th
12:00 – 2:00pm
Duffield Atrium
Contact Information
Erin Moore
Energy Outreach Coordinator
Facilities Services – Energy & Sustainability
edm93@cornell.edu
Ellen Sweet
Lab Ventilation Specialist
Environmental Health & Safety – Chemical Safety
ems325@cornell.edu