Test Your Laboratory Sustainability I.Q.
Which of the following use the MOST energy in a typical laboratory?
Biosafety Cabinets (Tissue Culture Hood)
Fume Hood
-80C Freezer
Computer
Fume Hood. The fume hood in your laboratory uses more energy than the tissue culture hood, the -80C freezer, or your computer. That is why shutting the sash of many fume hoods when not in use is a great way to save energy. Closing the sash stops the laminar air flow, and allows the fume hood to run on less energy when it isn’t in use.
Fume Hood. The fume hood in your laboratory uses more energy than the tissue culture hood, the -80C freezer, or your computer. That is why shutting the sash of many fume hoods when not in use is a great way to save energy. Closing the sash stops the laminar air flow, and allows the fume hood to run on less energy when it isn’t in use.
Which of the following is recyclable?
Pipette tip boxes
Falcon tubes
Sterilized aluminum foil caps
Cardboard packaging
All of the above
All of the above. Pipette tip boxes can be recycled, or refilled with tips and autoclaved to sterilize for use. Clean falcon tubes, sterilized aluminum foil caps and cardboard packaging can be recycled.
All of the above. Pipette tip boxes can be recycled, or refilled with tips and autoclaved to sterilize for use. Clean falcon tubes, sterilized aluminum foil caps and cardboard packaging can be recycled.
Which one of these traditional reagents has a green alternative?
Ethidium bromide
Coomassie Stain
Petri dishes
Kimwipes
All of the above
All of the above. Ethidium bromide can be replaced with Gel dyes or SYBR dyes as both non-toxic alternatives, the best replacement will depend on your specific need. Coomassie stain can be replaced by a non-toxic loading dye that co-migrates with the protein-SDS complex during electrophoresis, such as Bio-Safe® Coomassie Stain or Protein EZ-Vision®. Pheonix STAR Petri dishes are made with 35% less plastic than conventional petri dishes. Kimwipes can be replaced by Friendly Green™ Lab Wipes which are made from 100% recycled cellulose.
All of the above. Ethidium bromide can be replaced with Gel dyes or SYBR dyes as both non-toxic alternatives, the best replacement will depend on your specific need. Coomassie stain can be replaced by a non-toxic loading dye that co-migrates with the protein-SDS complex during electrophoresis, such as Bio-Safe® Coomassie Stain or Protein EZ-Vision®. Pheonix STAR Petri dishes are made with 35% less plastic than conventional petri dishes. Kimwipes can be replaced by Friendly Green™ Lab Wipes which are made from 100% recycled cellulose.
How much energy does a lab use, compared to non-lab learning space?
Less energy
The same amount of energy
Up to 4X more energy
Up to 10X more energy
Up to 4X more energy. It takes a lot of energy to keep all that extra equipment running, so remember to turn off equipment that is not in use.
Up to 4X more energy. It takes a lot of energy to keep all that extra equipment running, so remember to turn off equipment that is not in use.
Which of the following practices DOES NOT improve the energy efficiency or longevity of a lab freezer?
Cleaning filters regularly
Defrosting freezers once ice build-up exceeds one quarter inch
Keeping extra spaces in the freezer shelves so that air can circulate better
Keeping a freezer map to minimize the amount of time the door is open
Keeping extra spaces in the freezer shelves so that the air can circulate better does not improve the energy efficiency or longevity of a lab freezer, so go ahead and fill them up! Just remember to keep your freezer map up-to-date, so that you are not digging around for your reagents with the freezer door open.
Keeping extra spaces in the freezer shelves so that the air can circulate better does not improve the energy efficiency or longevity of a lab freezer, so go ahead and fill them up! Just remember to keep your freezer map up-to-date, so that you are not digging around for your reagents with the freezer door open.
Which of the following substances render a plastic unrecyclable upon contact?
LB broth
Ethanol
Agarose
Sodium azide
Sodium Azide. Sodium azide is toxic, and plastic cannot be recycled once it has come in contact with this chemical. Always dispose of plastics that have come in contact with sodium azide by following local, State and Federal guidelines.
Sodium Azide. Sodium azide is toxic, and plastic cannot be recycled once it has come in contact with this chemical. Always dispose of plastics that have come in contact with sodium azide by following local, State and Federal guidelines.
Which of the following is NOT a recommended lab practice when preparing to leave for a long break?
Closing all the blinds/shades in the lab
Shut down and unplug equipment that will not be in use
Closing all sashes on hoods
Stocking up on lab supplies that could increase in price next year
Stocking up on lab supplies that could increase in price next year. When leaving the lab for a long break, make sure you save energy by closing all the blinds/shades in the lab to reduce the necessity of climate control, shutting down and unplugging equipment that will not be in use, and closing all sashes on hoods to reduce electricity use.
Stocking up on lab supplies that could increase in price next year. When leaving the lab for a long break, make sure you save energy by closing all the blinds/shades in the lab to reduce the necessity of climate control, shutting down and unplugging equipment that will not be in use, and closing all sashes on hoods to reduce electricity use.
What is the most effective power management strategies for the office space?
Unplugging items from outlets when not in use (like cell phone power cords)
Using a central printer rather than individual printers for common office spaces
Take the stairs instead of the elevator in your building
All of the above help save energy for office space
All of the above help save energy for office space. Reducing the number of electrical devices plugged into wall outlets is a great way to save energy. Start by unplugging devices not in use and by using a common printer to reduce electricity consumption. Taking the stairs is good for your health and the environment, double win.
All of the above help save energy for office space. Reducing the number of electrical devices plugged into wall outlets is a great way to save energy. Start by unplugging devices not in use and by using a common printer to reduce electricity consumption. Taking the stairs is good for your health and the environment, double win.
Boxes used for shipping samples with dry ice CANNOT be reused due to federal guidelines.
True
False
False. Dry ice does not leave a residue that prevents reuse of boxes.
False. Dry ice does not leave a residue that prevents reuse of boxes.
Plastic media bottles CANNOT be recycled under any circumstances.
True
False
False. After rinsing, plastic media bottles can be recycled with other plastics. So make sure you have a recycling bin handy in your tissue culture room.
False. After rinsing, plastic media bottles can be recycled with other plastics. So make sure you have a recycling bin handy in your tissue culture room.
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