Two years ago, two researchers in the Rios group, Florijn Dekkers and Hannah Johnson, started Green Labs NL: A foundation that ensures, among other things, that scientists from all over the Netherlands can share ideas and information around sustainability in the lab. After all, scientific research uses devices that require a lot of energy. It also produces a large amount of plastic waste. Something needs to be done about that, they thought.
Freezer Challenge
The Máxima Green Labs initiative recently organized a Freezer Challenge. Over the past three months, eight research groups at the Máxima competed against each other. They were challenged to use the ultra-cold (ULT) freezers, where tissue samples are stored, more sustainably. 'Currently, we have more than 50 ULT freezers in the Máxima. These freezers consume 1.6 times as much energy as an average Dutch household of two. So there is a lot to gain here,’ Dekkers says.
Using a points system, scientists had to make optimal use of the freezer rooms. As a result, four ULT freezers and six -20 °C freezers were switched off. In addition, the temperature of five ULT freezers was raised from -80 °C to -70 °C. This saves 40 percent of energy consumption and is perfectly safe for most samples.
Scientists also created cleaning schedules and sample inventories. This extends the life of the freezers, allows samples to be found quickly and shortens the time that the door needs to be open. 'Through all the modifications, we’re saving energy equivalent to the energy consumption of eight Dutch households. Moreover, it saves on the purchase of extra freezers, at 17,000 euros each,' says Dekkers.
Silver Environmental Thermometer and LEAF
The initiatives of Green Labs NL match the broader developments in sustainability at the Máxima. An ‘Environmental Thermometer’ was implemented in 2021. One year later, in November 2022, it was found that the Máxima met 47 (+24 additional) mandatory requirements. With this, our center, as one of the few institutes in the Netherlands, achieved the silver level of the environmental thermometer.
A similar accreditation system also exists specifically for the lab, called LEAF. 'This tool offers research groups easy ways to make themselves more sustainable. Currently, nine groups already take part, but our ambition is to get most research groups on board by next year,’ Johnson says. For an overview of our sustainability initiatives and projects, check out our website.
Freezer Challenge
The Máxima Green Labs initiative recently organized a Freezer Challenge. Over the past three months, eight research groups at the Máxima competed against each other. They were challenged to use the ultra-cold (ULT) freezers, where tissue samples are stored, more sustainably. 'Currently, we have more than 50 ULT freezers in the Máxima. These freezers consume 1.6 times as much energy as an average Dutch household of two. So there is a lot to gain here,’ Dekkers says.
Using a points system, scientists had to make optimal use of the freezer rooms. As a result, four ULT freezers and six -20 °C freezers were switched off. In addition, the temperature of five ULT freezers was raised from -80 °C to -70 °C. This saves 40 percent of energy consumption and is perfectly safe for most samples.
Scientists also created cleaning schedules and sample inventories. This extends the life of the freezers, allows samples to be found quickly and shortens the time that the door needs to be open. 'Through all the modifications, we’re saving energy equivalent to the energy consumption of eight Dutch households. Moreover, it saves on the purchase of extra freezers, at 17,000 euros each,' says Dekkers.
Silver Environmental Thermometer and LEAF
The initiatives of Green Labs NL match the broader developments in sustainability at the Máxima. An ‘Environmental Thermometer’ was implemented in 2021. One year later, in November 2022, it was found that the Máxima met 47 (+24 additional) mandatory requirements. With this, our center, as one of the few institutes in the Netherlands, achieved the silver level of the environmental thermometer.
A similar accreditation system also exists specifically for the lab, called LEAF. 'This tool offers research groups easy ways to make themselves more sustainable. Currently, nine groups already take part, but our ambition is to get most research groups on board by next year,’ Johnson says. For an overview of our sustainability initiatives and projects, check out our website.