Alert: The Plaza Building will remain closed through Jan. 20, 2025.
The Plaza Building will remain closed through Jan. 20, 2025. The Health Center is operating in a modified capacity. Call 303-615-9999 for appointment information during operating hours. Reminder, the Health Center is closed for the winter break Dec. 24 - Jan. 1.
Learn More
Mission
The goal of the Green Labs Program is to work with partner labs to maximize sustainability and safety initiatives while minimizing impact on vital research performed by each lab.
Necessity
CU Anschutz houses over 1 million square feet of research laboratory space which is equivalent to more than 17 football fields! Due to the process-heavy nature of research, laboratories at CU Anschutz are the most resource intensive spaces on campus, accounting for more than 40% of campus energy use. Beyond energy, labs also consume high volumes of water, chemicals, equipment, and PPE. Additionally, labs produce hazardous waste which can be expensive and toxic to safely dispose of.
The CU Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to improving human health. Labs have an outsized impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste production, and water use. The consumption of these resources negatively impacts climate change, landfill capacity, and resource availability. To better preserve human health, in addition to their research, labs can partner with the CU Anschutz Green Labs program to minimize this environmental impact.
Model
The Green Labs Program was started in August 2024. As a new program, our aim is to start with small pilot projects that can be scaled up or modified based on success. Please sign up for our newsletter to stay current on green labs projects.
Communicate
Keep up to date with the Green Labs Program by signing up for the CU Anschutz Green Labs newsletter.
Contact Derek Cooper to find out how your lab may participate: derek.cooper@cuanschutz.edu.
Sign up for the 2025 freezer challenge
Freezers are the second most energy intensive piece of lab equipment behind fume hoods. To earn points for the freezer challenge, optimize your cold storage according to Cold Storage Best Practices. Participants earn points for taking any combination of actions in the guide.
An official spreadsheet to enter your actions will be released in February. Be sure to sign up for the freezer challenge to receive this scoresheet. Any actions you take from January through June 2025 will count toward your point total. Awards will be given to the highest scoring laboratories on campus. Additionally, CU Anschutz is competing against CU Boulder to see which campus can earn the most points.
Want help maintaining your freezers? You can sign up for a maintenance program through Facilities Management. See attached flyer: -80 Maintenance Guide.