Reusing pipette tip boxes by refilling pipette tips purchased in bulk and autoclaving has been going on in green biology labs forever. The drawback is the time it takes. Cheers and credit to easylabsolutions on youtube for demonstrating this 3D printed device!
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Eversource support for cold storage
Labconscious thanks Steve Miller for sharing this green lab tip on a program to help raise vaccine cold storage and research capacities. Steve manages the High-performance Lab Initiative at Eversource. It was clear from our conversation that Steve has compassion for people waiting to get the first COVID-19 vaccines. Likewise, Eversource has instigated a program to support the rollout. Happily, Massachusetts has taken the Eversource initiative and made it into a statewide program for utilities. We hope that this approach will keep spreading!
Read MoreWear Reusable Masks
Make no mistake, masks are vital source control barriers to COVID-19 transmission. Biologists have a unique opportunity to lead by example with effective mask-wearing. We can take it further by incorporating sustainability into mask use. To do this well, we need to consider the mask issue from multiple perspectives. The CDC and an analysis by the University of College London (UCL) Plastic Waste Innovation Hub each provide key insights to help assess mask designs.
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UV disinfection in life science labs
Since many biology labs are working at limited capacity due to COVID-19 , I wondered if any of the UV disinfection technologies used in the healthcare sector could improve safety and sustainability in biology workspaces. To consider any practical options, I dug up some recent studies and spoke with the Director of the University of New Hampshire Environmental Engineering Research Group, James Malley Ph.D., who is a respected expert on UV theory and practice. It turns out that there are strict scenarios for UV technology to improve safety and sustainability.
Read MoreHow to switch from plastic to glass Petri dishes in your lab: an interview with Elicia Preston of the UPENN Perelman School of Medicine
Our thanks today to green lab champion Elicia Preston who is a research scientist and lab manager in John Murray’s Lab in the Genetics Department at the Perelman School of Medicine! The following interview and their accompanying “how to” video provide the information you need to use glass petri plates to reduce plastic waste in your laboratory.
Read MoreMIT's MASH alarm is an easy, effective and inexpensive way to save VAV fume hood energy
When you leave a freezer door ajar in your kitchen, what happens? The refrigerator beeps, right? This warning is a simple and effective signal to avoid a problem. Behavioral scientists might describe that “beep” as an auditory prompt. It’s a cue to help people extinguish an unwanted behavior. The MASH alarm works in a similar way. The device beeps after no motion is detected for three minutes at a hood when the sash has been left too far open.
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