Our labs are vital to enabling the significant and impactful research we’re able to deliver at University of Bath. However, labs are also energy- and resource-intense spaces and so represent a key focus area for improving sustainability at Bath.
One significant way we’re tackling this at Bath is through the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF). Since LEAF was launched at Bath in October 2021, colleagues from across the University have got involved and are already making impact. Some of our top achievements to date include:
- 150 labs (1/3 of total) are now registered from 10 departments, with 12% having already achieved certification at some level
- The Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering were the first lab to achieve Gold certification in February 2024, inspiring further labs to strive towards this achievement
- The Faculty of Engineering & Design have set targets for 100% Bronze certification for all 105 of their labs
- The Department for Health and the Department of Psychology have achieved 100% Bronze certification for their labs meaning that the Faculty for Humanities & Social Sciences is the first faculty to achieve Bronze for all of their labs
- £11,000 has been saved annually by warming up 24 ultra-low temperature freezers from -80°C to -70°C - this seemingly small change can lead to 23-30% reduction in energy consumption
Actions taken through LEAF are supporting the University in delivering towards our commitments to tackle climate change and achieving our net zero goals. It is also a significant demonstration of labs' commitments to sustainable practices, something which is increasingly being demanded by research funders.
Increasing impact
In February 2024, the Enhancing Research Culture Fund provided funds to support a project focused on sustainability action in labs, targeting an acceleration in changes to research culture that can enable actions to further embed sustainability and empower colleagues to collaboratively drive change.
As part of the project, lab users were invited to complete a survey about lab sustainability opportunities and barriers; the results of this are helping to drive the focus of support mechanisms developed through the project and which are continuing to be worked on. A range of new materials and resources are being produced to support colleagues and will be launched as part of a new Sustainable Labs Hub later this year. Additionally, we held a pilot Sustainable Labs Conference in June with feedback from this event supporting our drive to continue providing an event like this on an annual basis.
Take action
- Find out more about LEAF and register your lab
- Join our Bath LEAF Teams group
- If you work in a lab, attend our 'Introduction to Lab Sustainability & LEAF' course on Thursday 17 October – book via ESS
- Look out for the launch of our Sustainable Labs Hub which will give lab users the tools and support to help embed sustainable thinking and actions (due to launch in late 2024)