Category: Wet Labs
Level: Silver
Author: Schell B., Hermuth-Kleinschmidt K., Scagliotti V., Weber P.,
The Impact: <p>Reduce energy consumption and extend equipment lifespan</p>
Details
Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers typically operate at −80 °C. Changing their operatng temperature to −70 °C reduces energy consumption by 20–30%, lowers mechanical strain on compressors, and extends equipment lifetime. Most biological samples, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, cell lysates, and many other sample types remain stable at −70 °C.
To adopt this new operating temperature, research groups should engage all sample owners and confirm which materials are compatible with −70 °C storage. Switching to −70 °C is one of the highest-impact energy-saving measures a research group can implement in cold storage.
Consider arguments such as indicating that most research functioned on −70 °C before ~2005, which is the foundations of today's research. You can sometimes find these storage condition indicated within the methods of papers which stored your materials. Also note that insulation for today's freezers is much better than historic units, and that operating at colder temperature affords you little increased time after power-cuts as initial temperature increases are fast before slowing once they hit −70 °C and warmer.
Beyond ULT freezers, ensure that your -20 °C units are not operating at colder temperatures unless necessary.
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