Delta College
IN-9: Green Laboratories

Delta College laboratories operate under the guidance of small-scale chemistry which practices the elimination and/or minimization of waste generation and environmentally sound on-site and off-site recycling. The laboratories have significantly reduced the amount of chemical waste generated, water consumption, and follow sustainable purchasing guidelines.

Energy Conservation & Efficiency (e.g. fume hoods, shut the sash) and Freezer Maintenance Programs
Auto-sash, height-closing fume hoods operate by room occupancy sensors. Sensors close hoods when labs are not in use and indicate when it is safe to close hoods to reduce make up air volumes. Color-coded display alongside each hood encourage reduced sash heights for optimum hood face velocities and reduced air consumption during labs. An upgrade from an analog to digital hood control system created greater energy conservation (i.e., by considering class schedules). Other upgrades to increase air handling efficiencies include changing main air fans from B+ and F- ratings to A+ for redundant twin fan air circulation systems. This increases the ability to control energy loss in make-up air and to reduce over-supply by shutting down the secondary fan and reducing fan speed.

Measures to conserve energy are practiced by the laboratory staff and include: operating the autoclave only at full capacity. (The autoclave relies on FM steam line which reduces the energy to heat water.); and using a microwave rather than hotplate to melt agar.; turning off incubators and refrigerators when not in use; unplug unused appliances over weekends and extended breaks; and programming refrigerators to continually run through auto-defrost cycle every few hours.

As students perform simultaneous heating experiments, a significant amount of electricity is expended. As a measure of conservation, a series of microscale experiments using microwave technology were modified for use in the organic chemistry lab. Standard kitchen microwaves are operated inside a fume hood under a closed sash. Reactions can be completed in a microwave in less than three minutes, a significant savings compared to operating a hotplate for up to two hours.

Water Conservation & Efficiency
All laboratory and dishwashing sinks have water-saving aerator faucets. The dishwasher is operated only when full, using Econo wash when possible. DI water is dispensed through pin-hole wash bottles to reduce consumption. Students use methods to conserve water during the drying process including the use of microwave ovens. After the solid sample is dried on a vacuum aspirator, it is sandwiched between filter paper and paper towels. It is then placed in the microwave where it is subjected to three cycles of drying and cooling. Student research in green chemistry found that by utilizing water aspirators and microwave drying, an 87% reduction in water consumption could be realized.

Chemical Use and Disposal
Labs resulting in product creation are used in other labs as feed stocks when possible. Recycling chemicals by distillation or recrystallization as part of the Lab experience lead to near zero waste production in labs.

Materials Management
Products created in a lab are used in other labs as feed stocks when possible. Recycling chemicals by distillation or recrystallization as part of the Lab experience lead to near zero waste production in labs.

As a financially-responsible and materials-reduction method, all ‘disposable’ glass test tubes are sterilized, washed, and reused. Small-sized petri dishes are used whenever possible to minimize agar use and volume of disposal.

Training for Lab Users on Sustainable Practices
Lab training includes methods for reduce, reuse, and recycle processes. Delta College also offers lab training for local teachers to encourage small scale chemistry practices.