Middlebury College
IN-19: Green Laboratory Program

Energy conservation and efficiency is addressed with fume hood stickers on every fume hood sash reminding users to close completely when not in use. There is an equipment maintenance program that the freezers are part of which involves routine cleaning of the intake screens by STSS staff and defrosting/ice buildup removal by Faculty as needed. And, there is also the system in place via the hood sashes and occupancy sensors which allow rooms to go into "unoccupied mode" and consume less energy when users aren't present.

Chemical use and disposal are addressed in a few ways. Chemicals are always purchased in the smallest quantity possible (as Tim mentioned) in order to avoid expiring before they've had the chance to be used, resulting in waste that needs to be disposed of. When possible, chemicals are shared between labs, especially when small quantities are required, and purchase of an entire container would be excessive. When Faculty leave/retire, chemicals/equipment/consumables in good condition are redistributed to other labs, donated, returned to stock, or recycled when possible, to avoid disposal. And we follow RCRA(Resource Conservation & Recovery Act) guidelines as a Small Quantity Generator for use and disposal of solid/hazardous waste. These guidelines are designed to:
- Protect human health and the environment from hazards of waste disposal
- Conserve energy and natural resources
- Reduce the amount of waste generated
- Ensure wastes are managed in environmentally sound manner

Many of the labs have been trying to move towards "green chemistry" which among other things involves substituting hazardous chemicals with environmentally friendly options (which frequently also has the added benefit of being safer!).

Lab users are trained on sustainability practices as part of their safety training.