University of Queensland
IN-19: Green Laboratory Program

UQ’s Green Labs Program was founded in 2012 creating a network of environmentally conscious laboratory staff who promote good environmental practices in their work area. The program is underpinned by the University's Environmental Management System which was established in 1996, providing detailed policy and procedures for environmental practices.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/get-involved/green-labs-program
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/policies-and-procedures

UQ's Green Labs program includes a detailed and comprehensive assessment of sustainable practices in the lab including energy conservation and efficiency, water conservation and efficiency, green chemistry, efficient resource management for waste minimisation and procurement.

UQ's Green Labs Best Practice Guide is a key resource for the program, detailing sustainable lab practices for energy (fume cupboards, appliances, freezers, lighting, heating and cooling), water, chemicals, waste and procurement along with a range of information fact sheets to support labs.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/5115/GLBestPracGde.pdf

There are approximately 50 Green Labs representatives providing sustainability leadership within their labs. Reps, staff and students within the labs have the opportunity to take part in competitions, promotions, educational sessions and tours, workplace assessments and other sustainability-related activities. To become a Rep, staff are required to attend training and complete a sustainability assessment of the lab.
Current Green Labs Representatives
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/1695/GLReps.pdf
The Green Lab sustainability assessment is completed using an online portal, however a downloadable copy can be viewed here:
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/10449/GL%20AssesstFrm.pdf

Other Green Labs Program Resources include:

Energy Conservation
Energy efficient labs https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3110/ps_labenergy.pdf
Fume Cupboards https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3116/ps_labfumecpbd.pdf
Freezer Maintenance Guide https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3113/ps_labfreezermaint.pdf
Freezer Chilling Up Guide https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/13774/ps_labfreezechillup.pdf

Green Procurement https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3125/ps_labproc.pdf

Water
Water efficiency https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3155/ps_labwatereffcy.pdf
Reverse osmosis https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3131/ps_labrowater.pdf

Waste
Waste reduction https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3149/ps_labwaste.pdf

There are other resources available, see the Resources webpage, go to 'Posters and Fact Sheets', then to Green Labs https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/resources

Some examples of activities over recent years include:
• In 2018, Green Labs Reps took part in the International Freezer Challenge to improve their freezers' energy efficiency. Representatives also embraced the events and activities of Sustainability Week, including buying one green thing for their labs. Several Green Labs joined in on the expanded office composting initiative, which sees representatives collecting organic waste in their office kitchens and taking it to one of two collection points on the St Lucia campus. Reps also attended Green Lab seminars on waste, learning about the Queensland plastic bag ban and the container refund scheme, as well as UQ's new waste initiatives. Attendees were also shown examples of how to avoid waste in the lab through implementing green purchasing strategies.
• In 2017, Green Labs Reps were invited to apply for a funding boost to reduce energy use in their labs, and to take part in Freezer Month to make their freezer use more energy efficient. Reps provided invaluable input into developing the new Green Labs Best Practice Guide. Green Lab update sessions in 2017 included an on-campus seminar on sustainable IT practices and a tour of a sustainable wastewater treatment plant.
• Over the month of May In 2016 the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences participated in a Shut your Sash competition. Laboratories competed against each other to see who could achieve the lowest average sash height for their fume cupboards. The Sustainable Commuting Competition was also run in November with participants competing to reduce the greatest percentage of carbon emissions during their daily commute
• In 2014 the Sustainability Office coordinated a UQ institute-wide Shut your Sash Competition. Five UQ institutes competed in the energy conservation competition designed to encourage fume cupboard users to lower sashes when cupboards are not in use.

For further information on UQ's Green Labs Program please see the online details and follow the links to view program resources, posters, fact sheets, assessment tools, newsletters, annual reports, publications and more.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/get-involved/green-labs-program