Over the past two months, our partners in the Office of Campus Sustainability coordinated a series of interactive “Sustainable Lab Days.” This initiative is part of an ongoing collaboration with the U-M Medical School Carbon Neutrality Council. Held in the Hill Medical School Complex, North Campus Research Complex, and Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building, these events were a great way to engage staff and students in campus sustainability efforts and further emphasize the University’s commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Participants were able to complete the walk-through portion of the “sustainable lab certification” and receive lab-specific Planet Blue Ambassador training. 70 Medical School labs have started the certification process, and 19 have already achieved certification. There were also opportunities to participate in the “Freezer Challenge,” a friendly competition designed to reduce the carbon footprint of labs by promoting best practices for cold storage management. In 2023, 68 U-M labs engaged in the competition, resulting in an annual electric cost saving of 102,000 kWh/yr ($10,500), and an annual avoided emissions of approximately 30 metric tons of carbon!
Over 700 pounds of lab supplies have also been diverted from the landfill as part of the Lab Reuse Program.
A Carbon Neutrality Council is leading the Medical School’s sustainability efforts with goals to: incorporate sustainability and carbon neutrality into the school’s core values; generate awareness and create engagement; implement projects that reduce the school’s carbon footprint; and incentivize behaviors that support sustainability.
To continue to improve accessibility to education and resources about sustainable practices, OCS will partner with Medical School Facilities once again by hosting activities during Earth Week, April 22-26.