University of Victoria
IN-9: Green Laboratories

The Green Labs program is intended to provide researchers with resources and tools to implement sustainable practices without compromising health and safety. The goal of the program is to reduce our impact on the environment by reducing energy costs and minimizing hazardous materials use and wastes in laboratories. Green lab waste optimization projects:  Optimization of non-anatomical biological waste pails – initiative to educate lab users on proper lab waste disposal requirements. See: http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/assets/docs/yellowpail.pdf  Non-hazardous wastewater disposal - Certain non-hazardous lab wastewaters such as salt and buffer solutions can be safely disposed of in the sink while maintaining compliance with environmental regulations. Reducing the amount of non-hazardous waste entering the hazardous waste stream significantly reduces our environmental disposal footprint. See: http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/environment/waste/wastewater/index.php  Liquid Biological Waste disposal - Also part of a multi-phase hazardous waste optimization project, OHSE rolled out the disposal Liquid biological waste disposal protocol regarding level I and Level II Liquid Biological waste (i.e. cultures, supernatants, media) which allow this type of waste to be disposed of using safe sink disposal following either autoclave or bleach treatment methods. Again, allowing this criteria of waste to go for safe sink disposal significantly reduces out transportation and disposal footprint. See: http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/research/bio/liquid/index.php  Mercury thermometer Replacement Program http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/assets/docs/thermometers.pdf  Lab Glassware recycling protocol - http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/assets/docs/glasswareprotocol.pdf Energy conservation and efficiency:  In 2014, a project was initiated to have all fume hoods flow adjusted down to meet regulatory provincial compliance standards and save energy.  Following the above regulatory compliance and energy savings project, UVic rolled out further energy savings initiative called Set back and shut the Sash initiative in 2014 in conjunction with the Science labs, Sustainability, and OHSE departments. The initiative saw energy savings equal to 5 homes in the fall of 2014 by using the night set back mode and also supported safety measures with respect to accurate fume hood usage. The program is embedded into that particular building and will be expanded to other Science buildings over the next few years. Water conservation and efficiency:  The Science Labs switched out water powered aspirators for electrical and air powered pumps.  As well, recirculating chilled water system are now used in lieu of continuously flowing cold water in Bob Wright building labs, one floor of Elliott building and a program is in place to determine feasibility for remainder of Science labs in Petch and Elliott buildings on go forward basis. Training for lab users on sustainable practices:  Sustainability and Green Labs awareness are weaved into Lab Safety training as well as embedded into the annual lab inspections via OHSE annual department as well as interdepartmental OHSE inspections. The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability also visits individual labs to provide training on shutting the sash/ using setback mode to conserve energy. See: http://www.uvic.ca/ohse/research/laboratory/inspections/index.php