Labs go green with new sustainability project

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Comic highlighting sustainable actions in labs

A project aimed at improving the energy and resources of our laboratories has been implemented at the Edinburgh Campus.

Developed by Transition Heriot-Watt and the Estates teams, the Sustainable Labs project helps increase awareness of resource efficiency and implement efficient practices within our laboratories. Labs can use up to four times as much energy as offices and other academic buildings.

The project developed from an initial conversation with Brian Hutton, Senior Chemistry Technician, who was interested in how water efficiency could be improved in the teaching labs. Building on this, a number of staff and students within Chemistry and Life Sciences became involved, contributing feedback and expertise. 

To support lab users to take sustainable steps, Transition Heriot-Watt gave talks to staff and students. Around 500 students have taken part in the discussions in their lab classes.

Key resources, including a student-focused comic and staff Best Practice Guide, have been designed to highlight actions that students and staff can take to improve the sustainability of laboratories. Copies of these materials are available in digital and paper form.

We invite all colleagues and students who work in labs to use the resources and take action to improve the sustainability of their laboratories. 

For further information on the project or to access physical copies of the resources, please contact info@transition.hw.ac.uk.  

Transition Heriot-Watt is funded by the Scottish Government's Climate Challange Fund.