Project Summary:

To tackle wasteful sources of energy consumption on campus, the Freezer Challenge Core Team—representing Environmental Health and Safety, Sustainability, and Utilities—is leading NAU’s first campus-wide participation in the My Green Lab International Freezer Challenge. Spearheaded by project leader Jeff Baranowski and advisor Shelley Jones, this initiative empowers students, researchers, and support staff to adopt sustainable laboratory practices. By supplying the necessary tools and incentives, the project supports research teams in performing vital ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer maintenance, such as regular defrosting, filter cleaning, and inventory organization. These hands-on efforts drastically reduce unnecessary energy consumption while extending the lifespan of expensive equipment and safeguarding valuable research samples. To spark engagement, the program also features an institution-specific competition, celebrating and rewarding top-performing labs for their commitment to shrinking the university’s environmental footprint.

 

Project Lead:

Jeff Baranowski

Project Advisor:

Shelley Jones

Date:

2025-10-08

Funding Amount:

$3,160.00

Department:

Environmental Health and Safety

Supporting Documents