Time for a green wash

‘Going green’ should now be a top priority for laboratory planners. Selecting an eco-friendly washer for the laboratory is a good place to start…

Environmental sustainability — or “going green” — is a way to meet needs with less adverse impact on the world in which we live.  Planning a lab that meet’s today’s requirements for sustainability is an ongoing top priority for lab planners and architects. From determining the heating and cooling systems for your lab, designing the layout of the room, through to the actual selection of fume hoods, ovens and lab washers, these decisions are often driven by a greater plan to achieve ISO 14001 environmental management accreditation or to ensure the lab is more energy efficient than before.

Have your customers ever asked if your operations are ISO certified? If not, eventually they will. Customers want confirmation that your laboratory is being run in an environmentally sensitive manner. One way you can communicate this message is through ISO certification. Which proves your lab has been checked to meet stringent elements like Environmental Commitment and Policy, Planning, Implementation and Operation, Checking and Corrective Action, and Management Review.

Obviously the cost of energy has gone up and is now becoming more and more significant. When you look at the future and try to make the lab more eco-friendly and economical to operate, you start to look at each individual system.

Selecting products for the lab has grown beyond weighing up features, benefits and performance to the sustainability measures of a product. In many cases, the more sustainability a product boasts, the higher the price tag. To justify the additional expense, the planner needs to delve beyond the products’ features and benefits and examine the total cost of ownership of the specified product.

Labs use far more energy and water per square foot than the average building due to increased equipment, process, and ventilation demands, so it pays to take a good look at the manufacturer to determine if they have a clear sustainability programme in place to develop efficient and durable products whose production, consumption and disposal have as little impact as possible on the environment.

Manufacturers of lab equipment should be able to provide a report that includes facts and figures on production facilities and the life cycle elements of each type of cleaning system-from power, water and chemical consumption to recyclability of product materials, CO2 emissions and waste. This information is good ammunition to argue the extra expense of a sustainable product. When it comes down to the actual product evaluations for environmental impact, each product category will differ. For the latest washer-disinfector, for example, here’s a quick checklist on washer requirements for planners who are looking to outfit their newest design with sustainable washers:

Designed for energy and water efficiencies: Cleaning systems designed for sustainability are engineered to use less chemicals and less water, which means less chemical effluent entering the ground water. A typical high-end manufacturer will use flow meters and pressure switches – rather than timing circuits – on all incoming washer lines in order to save water by allowing precise filling.

Machine longevity: A laboratory glassware washer is an investment. Look for a machine that is factory-rated to last – for example 15,000 operating hours. If you use the machine six hours per day for 260 working days per year, the washer should last at least 10 years.

Special efficiency and sanitization performance features: these enhance product longevity, increase productivity in the lab and reduce energy costs as they prevent problems that impact the bottom line and the environment.

Overflow protection: look for washers to have a waterproof system. This will protect a lab from overflow water by shutting off the incoming water supply and alerting the user.

Steam condenser: inclusion of a steam condenser eliminates the need for additional drying units. This avoids potentially hazardous steam from venting into the lab during operation. It also reduces the overall footprint.

Choosing not only a sustainable laboratory glassware washer, but other green instruments as well comes down to you understanding product specs in addition to a manufacturer’s commitment to the environment. Knowing where you stand, where they stand and how your new green instrumentation will help you get there is the key to selecting sustainable lab products.

• About the Author: Miele Professional products www.miele-professional.co.uk 0844 893 0772.