Autoclave Replacement

Autoclave Replacement

Project Leads: David Scrimger

Project Sponsor: Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Department

TGIF Grant: $8,000

Project Theme: Water Conservation

Application Submission

Project Description: The Green Labs Autoclave Replacement Assessment project aims to address the massive amounts of water consumed by laboratory sterilizer equipment, specifically by autoclaves. The Green Labs program recognizes the opportunity to significantly reduce this exorbitant water usage (and its associated long-term financial costs) as part of its underlying commitment to achieving campuswide water efficiency. Proposed funding for this project will aid continued student research throughout the following academic year. Through an in-depth evaluation of the outdated autoclaves housed in the Life Sciences Addition (LSA) building, findings have since spurred a broader discussion among other campus labs and a desire to continue research on behalf of future sterilizer upgrades based on their autoclave needs.

Project Goals: Goals of the Green Labs Autoclave Replacement Assessment project include the hire of two new Green Labs Research Associates in an effort to continue a comprehensive assessment of LSA water use, and later, of the autoclave needs within other UC Berkeley campus labs. Following thorough equipment selection, collected data from these assessments will be shared with Purchasing (Procurement) to implement a UC system-wide purchase.