The 2024 Freezer Challenge is closed.
Stay tuned for the next Freezer Challenge in January 2025!
The鈥疘nternational Freezer Challenge is a global competition organized annually by and the 鈥痶o promote energy efficiency in labs.
Millions of precious samples and reagents at 看片视频 are stored in expensive, energy-intensive fridges and freezers. By participating in the听, lab users take concrete actions to increase energy efficiency, improve sample accessibility and integrity, reduce maintenance costs, and extend equipment lifespan.
To participate in the International听Freezer Challenge, lab users must and document their new or ongoing best practices related to cold storage management. These practices include:
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Conducting preventative maintenance on fridges and freezers.
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Adjusting appliance temperatures听to cool samples and reagents no more than needed.
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Retiring old equipment and, when necessary, upgrading to energy efficient models.
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Updating or creating an inventory for samples.
Prizes
看片视频 labs and research institutes that sign up and submit their scoresheet to the International Freezer Challenge will compete against other academic labs and institutes around the world for a chance to win from the challenge organizers.
The Office of Sustainability also has local incentives for participants at 看片视频 and affiliated research institutes. Winners will be determined based on the normalised scores from their submitted scoresheet and the estimated energy saved (in kWh) by implementing sustainable cold storage practices.
Contact
For questions about the International Freezer Challenge, please contact or consult their .
For questions about implementing the International Freezer Challenge at 看片视频, please see the frequently asked questions below, download a 看片视频 resource sheet, or email labs.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.
NOTE:听The Office of Sustainability is serving as a site coordinator for the Challenge to monitor and support participating labs at 看片视频 and affiliated research institutes.
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2024 Freezer Challenge @看片视频
In 2024, 看片视频 joined the Challenge and dramatically surpassed our 2023 debut! Between January and June 2024, 86 labs completed the challenge! By implementing good cold storage management practices, these labs:
- Saved an annual total of 210,769, as much electricity as !
- Saved $14,000 in electricity costs, and
- Avoided 274kg of CO2e emissions (based on 看片视频鈥檚 Greenhouse Gas inventory emission factor calculations).
For the second consecutive year, the won the International Freezer Challenge @看片视频.
2023 Freezer Challenge @看片视频
In 2023, 看片视频 joined the Challenge for the first time.听Between January and June 2023, 16 labs -about 180 lab users- signed up. By implementing good cold storage management practices, these labs:
- Saved an听annual total of 64,746 kWh, as much electricity as听!
- Saved $4,500 in electricity costs, and
- Avoided 84.2 kg of CO2e emissions听(based on 看片视频鈥檚 Greenhouse Gas inventory emission factor calculations).
Get inspired by the winner of the 2023 International Freezer Challenge @看片视频.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the International Freezer Challenge take place?
The International Freezer Challenge starts on January 1, and runs until Canada Day on July 1, every year. Labs can join any time before June 30, 2024, and include any cold storage management actions conducted between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
How do 看片视频 labs sign up?
看片视频 lab users can follow the simple steps on the or kimberly.john [at] mcgill.ca (ask the 看片视频 Office of Sustainability) to sign up their lab.
Before signing up, 看片视频 lab users should discuss participation with their lab colleagues, , review the actions outlined by the challenge, and decide whether participation makes sense for their lab.
What type of cold storage equipment do labs need to participate?
The International Freezer Challenge covers all forms of laboratory cold storage, including refrigerators, freezers, and cold rooms.
Are labs within research institutes or entire departments eligible to participate?
Any lab at 看片视频 or an affiliated institute can sign up for the International Freezer Challenge if it uses cold storage for scientific samples. The competition defines a lab as 鈥渁 group of scientists that work and collaborate in a similar physical space while accessing the same fleet of cold storage equipment鈥. This means an entire department would also be eligible to sign up as a single 鈥渓ab鈥. Below are some of the fields that need to be filled out in the online form, along with examples of acceptable answers:
PI name or lab name: Principal investigator鈥檚 name, individual lab name, or department/institute name (if signing up as an entire department/institute)
Your Organization (Institution or Company Name): 看片视频 University
Your Department: Academic department name or research institute name
Should labs sign up even if they cannot commit to implementing all the recommended best practices
There is no minimum number of actions a lab must take to be eligible for the International Freezer Challenge. Lab users should only do the actions that make sense for their lab or that PIs and other colleagues agree should be pursued. If an action is not applicable to a lab's context, it can be recorded as "not applicable" on the challenge scoresheet. The challenge is scored based on a combination of factors, including points earned per action, kWh saved, points earned per cold storage unit, and kWh saved per cold storage unit.
How do labs participate in the challenge?
To participate in the International听Freezer Challenge, lab users implement recommended changes and/or document their ongoing best practices related to cold storage management. These actions benefit both the planet and the scientists themselves by reducing the cost, risk, and energy consumption associated with inefficient cold storage practices. These practices include:
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Conducting preventative maintenance on cold storage equipment.
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Adjusting appliance temperatures to cool samples and reagents no more than needed.
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Retiring old equipment and, when necessary, upgrading to energy efficient appliances.
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Updating or creating an inventory for samples.
For practical guidance on how to implement best practices for lab fridges and freezers, consult the .
What is the next step after signing up?
Once a lab听has signed up, participants should review the International Freezer Challenge actions with their lab colleagues to decide which of them apply to the lab, as well as when and how they will take these actions.
How do labs document the actions they take?
The actions should be documented on the online scoresheet. After signing up, lab users can download a spreadsheet from the International Freezer Challenge website and use it to record actions taken. However, labs will need to enter and submit their actions using the online scoresheet by June 30, 2023, to qualify for the competition.
When does a lab freezer need to be defrosted?
Lab users should regularly brush off the frost buildup inside their freezers. When ice cannot be easily removed from the interior walls or door of a freezer, it might be time for a full defrost.
What is the process for removing frost buildup from a lab freezer?
Before removing frost buildup from a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, frost buildup can generally be removed from the gasket and sealing surfaces using a soft brush or cloth.
Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.
For more detailed instructions of how to remove frost buildup from a ULT freezer, consult these resources:
What is the process for fully defrosting a lab freezer?
Before defrosting a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, the process will generally follow these steps:
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Move all the samples to a different freezer unit. Find out if a neighbouring lab can share space in their freezer, or ask the building manager if a temporary freezer is available. Lab users听working in the Life Sciences Complex or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a .
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Place absorbent pads around the base of the unit. This will prevent flooding and slipping hazards. Additionally, remove any loose chunks of ice and place them in a bucket.
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Turn off the freezer, unplug it, and leave the doors ajar. Let the unit thaw completely. This might take several days, so it is recommended to begin the process just before a weekend.
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Clean and dry the interior of the freezer. Wipe the interior of the freezer, as well as the seals and the outer door with a soft lint-free cloth dampened with water and a mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Stainless steel parts can be disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol applied with a soft lint-free cloth.
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Turn the freezer back on. Allow the unit about 12 hours to return to its operating temperature before transferring samples back to the freezer.
Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.
For more detailed instructions of how to fully defrost a ULT freezer, consult these resources:
Where can 看片视频 lab users acquire a temporary freezer?
Some buildings at 看片视频 have freezers that lab users can use to temporarily store samples and materials while they defrost their freezer.
Lab users working in the Life Sciences Complex (which includes the Bellini, Cancer Research, McIntyre, and Stewart buildings) or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a .
Lab users associated with another faculty or research institute should contact their building manager to ask if a temporary freezer is available.
For more information about acquiring a temporary freezer at 看片视频, please email labs.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.
Can lab users include preventative maintenance service calls for freezers and refrigerators on their scorecard?
Yes, preventative maintenance conducted by a service provider counts toward the actions taken by a lab, so long as it took place between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
What is the process for cleaning lab freezer or refrigerator coils?
Before cleaning the coils of a freezer or refrigerator, lab users should consult the appliance鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the coils can generally be cleaned by gently vacuuming or brushing them in the direction of the lines on the coil. Alternatively, a wet paper towel can be used to gently wipe the coils in the direction of the lines. Be careful not to bend the metal lines.
For more detailed instructions of how to clean the coils of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:
What is the process for cleaning a lab freezer or refrigerator filter?
A buildup of dust or grime on a freezer or refrigerator鈥檚 filter prevents normal airflow through the condenser, which hinders the appliance鈥檚 ability to effectively dissipate heat.
Before cleaning the filter, lab users should consult the appliance鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the filter can generally be cleaned by removing it and rinsing it with water. It is not necessary to dry the filter before placing it back in the freezer.
For more detailed instructions of how to clean the filter of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:
Is it safe to increase a freezer鈥檚 temperature from -80 C to -70 C without affecting the samples?
Lab users who are considering raising the temperature of a freezer from -80 C to -70 C are encouraged to review the publications listed below and discuss the idea with their principal investigator and lab colleagues.
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Bousema, et al, (2020).
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Espinel-Ingroff et al, (2004).
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Thermofisher Scientific, SmartNote: .
Consult the International Freezer Challenge website for more information about .
How can lab users maintain an effective inventory of their samples?
The following tips can help ensure samples stored in a lab freezer or refrigerator are easy to find, thereby reducing the amount of time spent searching for samples while the door is open:
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Label all samples and spot check inventories on a regular basis.
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and a map with the location of samples in a freezer or refrigerator.
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Use radio frequency identification (RFID) or a barcode system, which is more affordable.
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Organize samples in secondary containers (e.g., plastic storage boxes).
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Properly dispose of samples that are unidentified or no longer needed.
Consult the 看片视频 Hazardous Waste Management website for guidance on the听proper disposal of unwanted samples.