{"id":38130,"date":"2023-08-18T12:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T19:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/?p=38130"},"modified":"2025-08-04T17:21:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T00:21:14","slug":"record-breaking-success-2023-freezer-challenge-reduces-emissions-by-21-million-kwh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/da\/the-beaker-blog\/record-breaking-success-2023-freezer-challenge-reduces-emissions-by-21-million-kwh\/","title":{"rendered":"Record-Breaking Success: 2023 Freezer Challenge Reduces Emissions by ~21 Million kWh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n \n \n \t \"Freezer<\/picture>\n \n <\/sc-image>\n<\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

My Green Lab and the\u00a0International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) are thrilled to announce that the\u00a02023 Freezer Challenge has saved a whopping\u00a0<\/strong>20.7 million kWh of energy<\/strong>, corresponding to about\u00a014,663 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014\u00a0more than double the amount of CO2\u00a0saved in last year\u2019s challenge!<\/strong><\/p>\n

In our largest competition ever,\u00a0nearly 2,000 laboratories around the world<\/strong>\u00a0participated in the Freezer Challenge \u2014 a free competition that promotes energy efficiency through best practices in cold storage management. This year, participating labs contributed to\u00a0saving energy equivalent to 37.5 million miles driven by an average gas-powered vehicle.<\/p>\n

\u200b<\/strong>“The success of the 2023 Freezer Challenge underscores the dedicated efforts of thousands of scientists worldwide. Doubling last year\u2019s CO2\u00a0savings reflects a shared commitment to sustainable practices in energy conservation,\u201d\u00a0says James Connelly, CEO, My Green Lab<\/strong>. \u201cThe exponential growth in impact from the Freezer Challenge signals a shift in the science industry to embrace sustainability. It proves that small actions in the lab multiplied across the globe can have a significant impact.”<\/p>\n

Launched globally in 2017 by My Green Lab and I2SL, the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge has saved 44.7 million kWh worth of energy to date, reducing CO2\u00a0emissions by\u00a031,678 metric tons<\/strong>, which is the equivalent of saving\u00a0energy consumed by 6,164 homes for one year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s incredible growth is an indication that the scientific sector is taking sustainability seriously. Labs from\u00a027 different countries contributed to a 42% rise\u00a0<\/strong>in participating organizations compared to 2022, reflecting a wider global involvement.<\/p>\n

2023 Freezer Challenge Winners<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u200bWith over\u00a026,000 participating cold storage units, thousands of scientists and 170 organizations<\/strong>\u00a0committed to sustainability took part in making this year\u2019s challenge a success. Over the course of the six-month competition, labs accumulate points for adopting sustainable practices concerning their cold storage units, including actions that enhance energy efficiency, ensure sample accessibility, and maintain sample integrity. To determine the winners, the number of points earned as well as the amount of energy saved by each lab was considered.<\/p>\n

\u200bWhile every participating lab is a winner for helping save an incredible amount of energy, we are proud to recognize\u00a0labs and organizations in several categories for their noteworthy contributions to the 2023 Freezer Challenge.\u00a0<\/strong>Winners will be recognized at the\u00a0upcoming\u00a0I2SL Annual Conference<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in October and will also be interviewed for an article in\u00a0Lab Manager magazine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \t \"map<\/picture>\n \n <\/sc-image>\n<\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

Testimonials from Some of Our 2023 Winners\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

“We are delighted to be recognised with the Top Organization and Small Size Lab Awards. Participating in the Freezer Challenge is more than a friendly challenge among colleagues; it signifies our collective commitment to sustainable science. Every kilowatt saved reflects our dedication to not only pioneering research but also to safeguarding our planet for future generations. We all have a role to play.” \u2014\u00a0Juliette White, CBE, Vice President, Global Sustainability and Safety, Health & Environment, AstraZeneca.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“We were delighted to hear the news of winning the award. Signing up to the challenge motivated us to implement a management plan for our cold storage equipment and it was well worth the effort.”\u00a0<\/em>\u2014\u00a0<\/em>Dr. Jane Kilcoyne, Analytical Chemist at Marine Institute Ireland.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe GI\/Onc group has been a part of the Green Labs initiative here at Hopkins since day one. Earning the Freezer Challenge award is icing on the cake, the cake being our Platinum My Green Lab Certification. We plan on earning Green during our recertification.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2014\u00a0<\/em>James Leatherman, Lab Manager for GI Oncology Research, Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee and the team at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/strong>List of All Our 2023 Winners:<\/span><\/strong>
\nNote:\u00a0<\/strong>Winning Streak Awards are<\/em>\u00a0given to previous year’s winners that exceeded their energy savings from last year.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Biotech\/Pharmaceutical Sector Winners\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n