2024-01-18: Freezer maintenance best practices and funding available to replace old energy inefficient equipment (On Behalf of Procurement, TGIF Grants Committee, and UCSB LabRATS Program )

Created by Marc Miller
Jan 30, 2024

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January 18, 2024

 

TO:  Campus Community

 

FR:  Procurement, TGIF Grants Committee, and UCSB LabRATS Program 

 

RE:  Freezer maintenance best practices and funding available to replace old energy inefficient equipment

 

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is currently offering a $4,000 rebate to labs that are willing to recycle their 10 year old+ ULT freezer to buy a new ENERGY STAR® model. An additional $2,500 rebate is available for FY 2023/2024 from Fisher Scientific. Total rebate of up to $6,500 ($4,000 TGIF and $2,500 from Fisher Scientific; while funds last.

 

It has been estimated that UC Santa Barbara could see annual savings between 67% and 79% in a payback period between 6-13 years if all of UC Santa Barbara’s oldest ULT freezers were replaced with ENERGY STAR® units. Consolidating freezer space and eliminating the use of old freezers offers huge financial and environmental savings. Replacing old freezers also reduces the risk of failure and the loss of samples.

 

For more information on the rebate program and other important considerations when selecting a new unit, visit:

 

Increase the life and energy efficiency of your existing freezers by following these best practices:

  • Defrost and clean refrigerator/freezer coils - Establishing a preventative maintenance schedule can extend the lives of your ULTs as well as increase their efficiency! Investigations at the National Institutes of Health have indicated that for every year of a ULT freezer's life, its energy consumption increases by 3%. 

  • Maintain an inventory of samples - By Maintaining an inventory and discarding unneeded samples you will save space and reduce the need for more units.

  • Clean external coils and filters -  Dirt coils and filters increase energy consumption by preventing effective airflow. 

  • Maintain door seals - A tight seal is important to keep warm air out of the unit, it increases energy efficiency and performance. 

 

If you have questions about the rebate program, please contact Jewel Persad at jewelpersad@ucsb.edu.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Jewel Persad