|
SAVING ENERGY
The problem:
In 2007 there were approximately 30 million mice used in United States, with an average of 3 mice per cage and an 8 month lifespan.
We estimate 6.7 million cages were used to house these mice. Approximately 75% or 5 million cages are on IVC (individually ventelated cage) racks. We estimate an average of 125 cages per rack or 40,000 racks.
Each rack has an average of 1.25 blowers, which draw about 315 watts of plug load per blower or 393.75W X 40,000 = 15,750 kilowatts per hour. Since IVC racks run 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, that
equals 8,760 hours per year which equals ~138 MKW [megakilowatts] or 138 billion watts per year consumed by IVC racks in the United States alone. It is estimated that for each 1,316 Kwh generated by a coal-plant, it produces 1 ton of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, the annual use of
IVC racks in this country is responsible for about 105,000 tons of CO2 dumped into the environment.
You can then add to that, the energy cost of cooling the heat gain of ~223 watts generated by each blower on IVC racks. To cool 223 watts X 1.25 (average number of blowers per rack) = 278.75 watts.
We estimate the average rack runs at approximately 32 cubic feet p/minute. Therefore, to power 32 cfm X 8,760 hours X 40,000 racks = 11.2 Billion cfm/year. These racks require 1 w per cfm on
average, i.e. 11.2 MKW [8,520 tons CO2]. So the total estimated energy consumption for all IVC racks in the U.S. is nearly 150 MKW. These racks are responsible for 113,520 tons of carbon dioxide
emissions each year.
This amount is growing at an annual rate of 30%.
This does not include research being done in Europe, Australia, Asia or South America.
2008 TURNKEY CONFERENCE - Baltimore, MD
This years Turnkey conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland on April 17th and 18th. The conference, presented by ALN® Magazine, focuses on all aspects of building or renovating a
laboratory animal facility. This annual conference delivers useful information on the latest technology and trends in facility construction, renovation, and equipment.
Session 1 - Green Design is Not a Myth in a Vivarium: Strategies to Improve the Natural Environment, Economy, Health,
and Productivity in a New Animal Facility by Diego J. Rozo, AIA, LEED®,AP, NCARB, CDT, Associate, Perkins + Will and Lea Anne Leatherwood, LEED®,AP, Associate.
Click here to download a PDF (1.6M) version of the session.
The Safety Guys: LEED the Way to Green: U.S. Building Council's Path to Better Buildings
McLeod, V. and Ketcham, G. (2008, April). Animal Lab News Magazine, 7(3), 49-51.
With the focus of this issue of ALN on design and build, we thought an introduction to building green and the LEED rating system would be informative. Green buildings and sustainability are
getting a lot of media attention lately. As the debates on climate change, energy, and protecting the environment heat up, building green is gaining more and more momentum. What does this mean
for the research facility manager? What are green buildings and how are they built? This issue’s column will give you a brief overview of LEED, planting the seed for your next green building project....
Click here for the complete article.
National Jewish Medical Center Minimizes Vivarium Resource Consumption Through Strategic Management
Equipment and Personnel Changes Improve Vivaria Operating Efficiency
Reprinted with Permission © April 2008 from TradelineInc.com, a registered product of Tradeline Inc., a provider of leading-edge resources to facilities planning and management through
conferences, publications, and the Internet community. Visit www.TradelineInc.com for more information.
Recent initiatives at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center (NJC) in Denver, Colo., are generating significant improvements in operating efficiency, especially in relation to water,
energy, and labor-three major issues for vivaria operations. In the past year, the organization has been able to reduce water consumption by more than five million gallons per year, which will result in
an estimated savings of more than $60,000 in 2007 due to incentives from the Denver Water Department. The savings will average $21,000 per year in the years following. Likewise, improved personnel
management and scheduling initiatives have resulted in a 20 percent reduction in staff turnover in the past year....
Click here for the complete article.
|
| 
Green Vivarium.org 1-720-989-8350
