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General equipment makes up a lab’s foundation. Without these crucial tools, few experiments could be performed, because

nearly every research project depends on one or more of such technologies. As fundamental elements of research, general lab

equipment must also be efficient. “Energy efficiency in laboratory equipment is extremely important,” says John Dilliott, energy manager at the University

of California, San Diego. “It’s a major, yet virtually untapped area.” He mentions that My Green Lab, a

California-based nonprofit, published a 2015 report estimating that there are more than 1.2 billion square feet of laboratory

space in the United States. “These spaces are three to five times more energy intensive than office areas due to energy-

intensive equipment, around-the-clock operations, 100 percent outside-air requirements, and high airflow rates,” Dilliott

says. “Not only does laboratory equipment consume a substantial amount of energy, but anyone who has ever been in a lab

knows that the heat generated by lab equipment can lead to overcompensation by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning

systems, resulting in an additional increase in energy consumption.”