SAVE $50,000 (or more!) EVERY YEAR with Your Shut the Sash Program

3. Present data-driven findings to senior leadership indicating the potential for saving, and garner their support.

            Our findings were presented to the Senior Operations Team at FAS, and I subsequently requested additional funds to kick off a new Shut the Sash Competition between 14 additional laboratories. Senior management approved, and as of September 2015 Harvard has 33 labs participating in fume hood competitions, up from 19 just a year ago.  While these new labs are less fume-hood-intensive as those in CCB, savings can still be found.  Estimates suggest this new competition should save an additional $50,000-$73,000, which pushes Harvard's annual savings to around $300,000 per year between both competitions.   Considering the operational budget of $4,500 per year for running each competition, this should be a huge success for FAS and the Office for Sustainability.  FAS opted to fund a one-year pilot of this competition, and a follow up study is planned for the fall of 2016 to assess the efficacy of the expansion.

Save your research funding from energy waste, "Shut the sash"! Be like Harvard Green Labs, be #labconscious!

Save your research funding from energy waste, "Shut the sash"! Be like Harvard Green Labs, be #labconscious!

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How Labs Can Avoid Polluting Waterways (and What to Do Instead)
How Labs Can Avoid Polluting Waterways (and What to Do Instead)

In June 2020, the small town of Merrillville, IN, received a visit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Merrillville is home to Microbac, a laboratory that offers analytical testing services for food, environmental, antimicrobial products, and pharmaceuticals. With more than 20 facilities across the United States, they are required to follow local water regulations, in addition to safety data sheets. However, what the IDEM found was not in line with either.

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Plastic packaging often gets a bad rap (wrap?). And rightly so — approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic is produced annually in life sciences laboratories. While it provides essential protection and labeling for products, its impact on the environment calls for action. Fortunately, there are ways laboratories can reduce their waste from plastic packaging.

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The Pros and Cons of Wet, Semi-dry and Dry Transfer for Western Blots

This widely used immunoassay to probe samples for specific proteins and posttranslational modifications has potential time and material savings associated with variations of the transfer step. Whether it’s a simple buffer switch, or a more involved equipment swap - it’s always worthwhile to explore lab workflow efficiencies. Just take care not to risk a successful blot!

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Fetal Bovine Serum : Is it time to find a new growth supplement?

Fetal bovine serum, or FBS, has been a staple in cell culture practices for decades. However, multiple ethical issues and market supply challenges surround its use. Here’s a rundown of the issues around FBS, why scientists are looking for other options, and some alternative products to consider.

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