DESIGN, ENGAGE, OPERATE
Program
*Click on the presenters name(s) for the bio(s).
- Topic 1 - Design
- Topic 2 - Engage
- Topic 3 - Operate
November 7 from 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Welcome to the University of Alberta: Sustainability at UAlberta and the Green Labs Program
Trina Innes and Emma Lafreniere
University of Alberta
The Office of Sustainability is the hub of UAlberta's Campus Sustainability Initiative. We work collaboratively with the Office of the Provost, the facilities and operations portfolio, and many other units and student groups. Together we inform, inspire and enable students, faculty and staff to create and adopt sustainable practices with a focus on: outreach and engagement; teaching and research; and, facilities and operations. In addition to welcoming conference attendees to the University of Alberta, we will provide an overview of UAlberta’s Campus Sustainability Initiative and provide examples of the programs we deliver including the Green Labs Program.
November 7 from 9:30 am - 10:00 am
Applying Lessons Learned From Occupants to New and Existing Buildings
Liam O’Brien, Carleton University
Far too often, occupants behave in unexpected and energy-intensive ways in buildings. But are they acting illogically? And can we fault them for carrying out their personal and professional goals with little regards for building performance? This presentation explores a variety of case studies where occupants acted in very different ways than expected by building designers and operators. It will then propose a three-pronged approach to designing and operating buildings to encourage more sustainable behaviours. Finally, the presentation examines successful cases of good design from around the world. The take away message is that occupants are challenging, but not impossible, to design for.
November 7 from 10:30 am - 11:00 am
The Elephant in the Room – A Nationwide Study on Laboratory Plug Loads
Allison Paradise, My Green Lab
The results of a recent nationwide study on laboratory plug loads revealed a significant opportunity for energy savings. Over 1,500 scientists responded to questions about thirty-two pieces of equipment across seven product categories.
Data about the average number of pieces of equipment per lab and the operating hours for the equipment were used to calculate a total estimated energy consumption of plug loads in labs. This work was done as part of a larger project to establish a center for independent, objective third-party energy testing and benchmarking of laboratory equipment.
November 7 from 11:00 am - 11:50 am
Circulation Vector Impacts on Laboratory Design and Work Function
Sylvain Letarte, Phytronix Instruments inc.
In recent years, laboratory design has evolved and now takes into account a multitude of factors and parameters. The circulation vector is one of these design factors that can influence the architecture and engineering of a laboratory. Its goal is to maximize work efficiency, minimize travel and ensure security inside the lab. It is the work functions inside the laboratory that define the circulation vector. They are directly connected to the research performed in the laboratory and also to the type of instruments used. Instrumentation knowledge will also define the circulation vector and answer scientist need inside the laboratory environment.
A High Efficiency/Low Cost Method of Determining Fume Hood Eligibility for Safe and Sustainable Flow Reductions
Geoff Shirtliff-Hinds, University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a research intensive university with almost 1,600 fume hoods (FH), most of which are constant air volume. A recent survey conducted by the University showed that a majority of FHs have an average face velocity over 110 fpm with exception of the newly installed high efficiency fume hoods (HEFH). Reducing the exhaust of FHs by 25% is one of the many energy saving initiatives the University is undertaking in order to positively impact its carbon footprint.
As this energy saving program could potentially impact safety in labs, the Sustainability Office and the Environmental Health and Safety Office initiated a study of the containment of FHs at reduced face velocities in conjunction with the annual recertification process. The testing looked at FHs "as used" - comparing ASHRAE 110 certification testing and stand-alone smoke pattern visualization. During this study, N2O, which has a much lower CO2 equivalent impact than the standard tracer SF6 gas, was used and compared under the same conditions to validate the use of N2O in the future testing. In addition, the use of smoke pattern visualization was compared to tracer gas measurements and was found to be an effective method for assessing the likelihood of a pass or fail using the ASHRAE testing protocols. This allowed us to develop an efficient methodology of first pass assessment of containment.
Based on the smoke pattern visualization and cross draft measurement, FH containment was graded into four different levels: (A) full containment, will pass ASHRAE 110 certification "as used" - no further testing required; (B) small flow imperfections observed, require further investigation and containment testing; (C) significant smoke disturbances; further containment testing is required; may require an increase in face velocity; (F) smoke escape from FH, will fail certification - action required.
The presentation will discuss the methodology for visual first stage assessment using smoke patterns and how the results can be used to direct optimization of energy savings without compromising laboratory safety.
Water Use Reduction in Chemistry Laboratories
Mike Dymarski, University of Toronto
Water condensers and rotary evaporators are staples in most research laboratories. Historically domestic water has been used for cooling and in creating vacuum by water aspiration. This all contributes to the Utility Bill.
Sustainable alternatives are available. Several of these option will be discussed.
November 7 from 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
The North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge
Allison Paradise, My Green Lab
Laboratory ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers are the single largest piece of lab user equipment that consume energy in a typical laboratory, consuming up to 91 percent of a lab’s total plug load. Recognizing the potential for energy use reductions in laboratories that consolidate and remove excess ULT freezers, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and My Green Lab will have launched the first year of the North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge (FC). Besides having the goal to reduce energy consumption by equipment in the lab, the FC promotes sample accessibility, sample integrity, and reduced costs by harnessing a spirit of competition within and between laboratories. Challenge participants will employ well-evidenced criteria and best practices that support science quality and resilience while minimizing total costs and environmental impacts of sample storage. Details for participating in this challenge will be presented.
November 7 from 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
Otto Maass Building – Achieving Energy Efficiency While Maintaining Environmental Health, Safety and Security
Pierre-Luc Baril, Pageau Morel et associés inc.
The Otto Maass Building built in 1964 and located on the McGill University campus in downtown Montreal is dedicated to education and research in chemistry (total gross floor area of 125,000 ft2). With an average fume hood density of around 10 chemical fume hoods per 5,000 ft2 (including mechanical rooms and office spaces for a total of 235 chemical fume hoods), it was, in 2008, the biggest energy user of the campus (around 10% of the total energy consumption of the whole campus but accounting for only 3.4% of the floor area of the campus). The mechanical system supplying the lab area had not been renovated since the construction and there were no energy recovery devices installed.
McGill decided, in 2009, to completely renovate 37,500 ft2 of laboratories (40% of the building’s laboratories) and all mechanical rooms and distribution shafts serving laboratory areas, while maintaining most of its operations in the rest of the building. The biggest concern was to maintain a safe, secure, and healthy environment for users while replacing all HVAC.
One solution was to install temporary HVAC systems in the courtyard for a total of 120,000 cfm of 100% fresh air to supply the spaces that were left occupied. Since all central distribution shafts were renovated, the temporary air distribution was placed on the outside wall and many windows were removed to pass the ducts serving each room.
During the 12-month project, which included the winter period with temperatures as low as -20 F, laboratory works had to be carefully planned and scheduled so researchers had enough lab space to continue their experiments.
In the end, a total of 150,000 cfm of capacity (6 supply systems of 25,000 cfm each at 100% fresh air and 6 exhaust systems of similar capacity) was installed. The energy efficient installations included VAV, motion sensors for light, ventilation and fume hood face velocity, run around glycol recuperation loop, low temperature terminal reheat that is heated by various heat pumps in lab equipment rooms and by the heat rejection of a major server room located in another building, low velocity system, reuse of office air for minimum ACH required in lab space, precooling of exhaust air (with recuperated condensate) for greater energy recovery in the summer.
In addition, energy meters were installed to monitor the energy consumption of the building via energy management software used by the University.
Creating a Culture of Safety and Sustainability in UAlberta Laboratories
Rob Munro and Emma Lafreniere
University of Alberta
The Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) and the Office of Sustainability at the University of Alberta have identified that effective long-term progress is only achieved when the individuals in the laboratory take ownership of the program. As such there is synergy between the programs and a partnership between the groups can result in improved performance in all subject areas. For this reason, a Green Labs Project team has been developed to support growth of a culture of safety and sustainability in University of Alberta teaching and research labs. Together these offices are working to address safety and sustainability in three key areas: training opportunities, lab inspections and hazardous waste. In addition to encourage the desired cultural change within the three key areas EHS has developed a number of tools including a hazard management process, supervisory training and chemical management to allow laboratory personnel to take ownership of their safety and sustainability programs This presentation will include highlights of the accomplishments to date and goals for moving forward with a focus on some of the key initiatives including training, inspections and hazard management that drive cultural improvement.
The University of British Columbia's Life Science Centre – Achieving a 35% Reduction in Energy Use from UBC’s Largest Laboratory Building, Through Low Cost Optimization Measures, Behaviour Change Programming and Waste Heat Recovery
Orion Henderson, University of British Columbia
At 4% of campus floor space and 10% of campus energy use, the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) LEED® Gold Life Science Centre represents a large proportion of overall energy use on campus. Starting in 2012 UBC’s energy conservation team began a systematic process of low cost optimizations, waste heat recovery and behaviour change program development which have led to 35% reduction in building energy use.
November 7 from 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
Multi-Functional, High-Performance Run Around Energy Recovery Systems in Cold Climate Zones
Rudolf Zaengerle, Konvekta
HVAC systems are among the greatest energy consumers of large buildings and hence high energy cost. European high-performance “run around energy recovery systems” (RAERS) with advanced control software are operating at efficiencies of net 70-90% (based on annual energy consumption for heating and cooling), taking into account the additional electricity needed for glycol pumps and added fan power to compensate for air pressure drop in the coils.
While the thermodynamics of an energy recovery system are relatively simple, it is critical that high-performance systems operate at optimum performance under varying operating parameters. With several variable input parameters (outside air/supply air/return air temperatures; air volumes; glycol volumes and temperatures), controlling and optimizing a system requires a numerical simulation based controller that allows variable amounts of heat transfer fluid to be circulated throughout the system.
In multi-functional systems, additional heat and/or cold is introduced into the glycol circuit, either to boost the heating/cooling capability of the energy recovery system from waste heat/cold sources, or to control the supply air temperature to the building to eliminate the need of separate heating/cooling coils in the supply air handlers. These features add yet another level of complexity to the controller function.
Medical Research Laboratory Safety Program and Sustainability
John Shannon, University Health Network
Creating sustainable medical research laboratory environments that maintain health, safety and security are fundamental to enabling successful research programs. Planning decisions involving design, construction/renovation, maintenance, and operations must be considered. Ensuring compliance with current and future regulation, standards and guidelines is key. Understanding research procedures, hazardous material and laboratory equipment use is important to ensure a sustainable laboratory safety program
The presentation will review the following topics in relation to sustainability considerations:
- Fundamentals of health, safety and security;
- Key regulations, standards and guidelines applicable to laboratory environments;
- Facility design, mechanical systems and engineering controls; and,
- Health safety and security operational programs.
Sustainability and the Canadian Biosafety Standards
Brandon Rozo, Public Health Agency of Canada
As part of the evidence based mind-set adopted by the Center for Biosecurity at the Public Health Agency of Canada, all biocontainment requirements have been and continue to be reviewed for their true intent in a biocontainment application. Physical and operational requirements are being investigated and reworked to become performance based allowing labs to meet the requirements in a method that better suits their situation.
Upgrading Critical Ventilation Systems for Laboratory Buildings: A Case Study
Don MacDonald¹, Roger Fournier², Bob Andrews²
¹Phoenix Controls²AHA Consulting Engineers
Existing laboratory buildings built in the 70’s era typically suffer from a variety of problems ranging from poor fume hood containment, improper pressurization, temperature control and possibly exhaust air re-entrainment. The mechanical system infrastructure in these buildings are getting old and are probably ready to be upgraded or replaced.
Today’s new labs incorporate modern laboratory systems to keep energy costs down while providing a safe and collaborative facility for research to take place. However, not everyone has the ability to fund new facilities and consideration must be given to renovation and upgrading existing laboratories that have good bones. These older laboratories can take advantage of modern ventilation systems technology and safety improvements. These include energy cost reduction by converting constant volume systems to variable air volume, improving fume hood capture and containment, reduction in noise levels, better temperature control and improved pressurization control.
This presentation is a case study of University of Pennsylvania’s Chemistry 73 building retrofit and will outline the challenges, approach and outcomes for this facility.
November 7 from 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Information to come.
November 7 from 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
A Case Study of the Royal Alberta Museum Curatorial and Conservation Laboratories
Donna Clare and Tim McGinn
DIALOG
The integrated team of architects and engineers at DIALOG is passionate about sustainable design as demonstrated by the recently completed Royal Alberta Museum in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. This presentation will outline the special design considerations and features of a modern sustainably designed museum with both human history and natural history curatorial and conservation labs and workrooms. The labs accommodate a wide range of research and conservation disciplines from textiles and fine arts to ichthyology and biodiversity. Topics covered include best practices and innovative solutions to meeting a broad range of criteria for the design of complex labs in a public facility with the need for flexible and adaptable spaces able to accommodate changes in research and conservation practices over the life of the facility. Specific topics related to the environmental performance criteria include supply air purity and filtration, maintaining precision temperature and humidity conditions, exhaust requirements, smoke control, fire protection, and technical requirements to mitigate water damage risk to artifacts and collections.
November 8 from 8:45 am - 9:15 am
Modelling, Measuring and Evaluating Laboratory Energy Efficiency Performance
Gordon Sharpe, Aircuity
Energy conservation measures such as demand based control, chilled beams, variable exhaust fan controls, heat recovery, etc. can make a big impact on saving energy in labs. Yet how can the savings of these systems be modeled particularly when these approaches interact with each other and thus must be modeled together in one holistic model?
To address this, an energy analysis tool has been developed specifically to address these concerns. This presentation will discuss this tool as well as a related energy analysis tool that measures the actual airflow savings of completed projects. Several case studies will be presented on how the energy savings that was modeled compared with actual airflow savings and energy performance. Where savings did not match up with actual performance, some lessons learned will also be presented as to why some of these lab projects were not initially achieving their energy savings entitlement.
November 8 from 9:15 am - 9:45 am
Sustaining Research Infrastructures – A CFI Perspective
Mark Lagacé, Canada Foundation for Innovation
Starting with a brief overview and history of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), this presentation will then focus on the CFI’s expectations in terms of effective operations, maintenance and sustainability of CFI-funded infrastructures. In the past few years, the CFI has transitioned to a risk-based management approach and is actively promoting this to its eligible institutions across the country as a means to reduce administrative burden but also to allow for increased effectiveness and efficiencies in the administration of CFI funding. As well, the CFI has shifted to a portfolio management approach which allows for improved decision making, facilitates optimal implementation and efficiencies, and enhances infrastructure sustainability. Good practices in these areas will be shared with the participants based on process, policies and practices that we have learned from institutional monitoring visits and insights shared by our colleagues at the institutions nationwide.
November 8 from 10:15 am - 11:05 am
University of Alberta - Research and Teaching Lab Renewals
Hugh F. Warren, University of Alberta
This presentation will focus on how the University of Alberta has approached the renewal and provision of new labs in existing buildings. The success of the renewal of teaching and research labs, as well as the provision of highly specialised research labs, has been so successful that this has led to the establishment of funding partnerships with faculties for expansion of the program. The University will present case studies on renewal of a chemistry wing, the development of ultra clean and low metals labs in existing facilities and the planning for renewal of teaching labs for a variety of facilities. The presentation will include the sustainable design elements incorporated in the modernisation.
Reducing Laboratory Energy Consumption
Stuart Hood, Integral Group
The presentation will outline techniques used for reducing laboratory energy using case studies of retrofits from the university of British Columbia. The presentation will show applications ranging from retrofits for large high plume exhaust systems, to individual fume hood systems. It will show examples of retrofitting energy recovery systems to a lab to capture waste energy from exhaust and process cooling systems and how this is reclaimed to heat the building while also saving large volumes of potable water. It will also show how these techniques fit into the site wide context of the UBC campus district energy system conversion from steam to hot water.
Cell Therapy without Cleanrooms – A Better Manufacturing Practice for Cell Incubation and Processing
Ken Rando, BioSpherix Medical
A new cell therapy industry is forming. It is based on a new type of product: live potent cells.
First generation production facilities for therapeutic cells were cleanrooms. It made sense. It was the old standard from pharma. However, next generation cell production facilities are moving away from the cleanroom for many good reasons.
The BioSpherix approach is a total quality approach. BioSpherix recognizes that for best cell potency, cells need full-time optimization of all critical cell process parameters (O2, CO2, RH, T). Our customized/closed technology recognizes that all typical negative side effects of machines on cells (particles, heat, vibration, etc.) must be neutralized to make automation compatible with a cell optimized ecosystem, and those machines must be protected from dust, aerosols and corrosion.
Total quality recognizes that each entire cell production line (all manual and automated steps) must be protected from microbial contamination by full-time, absolutely aseptic conditions. Total quality recognizes that all personnel must be fully protected from cells harboring virus, vectors, prion, and other pathogens. Total quality recognizes that scaling up and out must be efficient. Total quality recognizes that cost efficiency is a fundamental quality attribute, critical for commercial. The Xvivo System is a comprehensive, modular, total quality "platform" for cells.
November 8 from 11:15 am - 12:05 pm
Emerging Trends in High Performance Buildings… How Do Northern Climate Labs Respond?
Justin Downey, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc.
LEED v4, Mandatory Energy Labeling, Carbon Taxes, NetZero Energy, the WELL Building Standard… As we strive to create the next generation of sustainable labs the standards listed will play an important role in shaping new developments.
Great high performance lab design strives for an appropriate balance between function, safety and energy performance however expectations of ‘high performance’ are continuously evolving. The CaGBC in Canada is about to transition to LEED V4, numerous jurisdictions across the globe, including here in Canada have, or are on the verge of adopting mandatory disclosure energy labeling and reporting, these developments will be financially linked to Carbon Taxes or various other ‘polluter pays’ mechanisms, and NetZero Energy or Carbon Neutral are the new high bar for the most advanced developments. What do these changes mean for the northern climate lab? Can facilities in our climate keep up, or even lead the world. This presentation will review key energy performance tenants of LEED v4, absolute comparators likely to be employed in adoption of mandatory energy labeling and carbon disclosure, and whether the NetZero Energy or Carbon Neutral Lab is a possibility in the Canadian context.
Additionally, while advancing shades of ‘green’ have become commonplace in the design and construction industry (see above) a new trend towards a people-centric design standard is emerging. The WELL standard, like LEED is a third party performance standard developed to spur market transformation. For a building design to be considered high performing, it must create a hyper productive space where occupants feel motivated, inspired, and genuinely enjoy coming to work. The overall benefit of promoting the health, well-being and comfort of building occupants will be discussed in the general context of factors like productivity, ‘the war for talent’, and retention with reference to the intent behind the WELL Building Standard. WELL’s focus is internal to the building occupancy and is developed to emphasize seven key indicators of occupant health: air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, comfort and mind. This presentation will review key tenants of the WELL standard and discuss Canadian challenges to implementation including criteria, interpretation, certification process, and place in the market.
What is Sustainability in a Vivarium?
Badru Moloo, University Health Network
This presentation will provide an overview and examples of the design and operational characteristics that make the vivariums flexible and adaptable to the changing environment of research. The presentation will be based on experience and perspectives from various stakeholders in the context of their priorities and ideas. Participants will be encouraged to discuss strategies that have worked at their own institutions.
November 8 from 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Energy Efficiency Incentives: Helping More Than Just the Bottom Line
Ed Rubinstein, University Health Network
While incentives often play a crucial role in energy efficiency projects, their potential influence on planning, operations and sustainability is far broader. Starting with a look at the different approaches for developing energy efficiency business cases, including potential sources for funding and incentives, this presentation will then examine how integrating incentives into capital and project processes can help more than just the bottom line.