SIGN UP for the 2020 competition open now!
WHY PARTICIPATE
REDUCE ENERGY & COSTS
Reducing energy consumption reduces costs and environmental impact of the lab.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Any type of laboratory is eligible to participate by working at its own pace to implement optimal cold storage management practices that save energy[...]
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Be awarded and nationally recognized at the I2SL conference as the winning lab in your category.
INCREASE SPACE & EFFICIENCY
Development of these ongoing cold storage management practices support efficiency and maximize space utility.
INCREASE GRANT ELIGIBILITY
Learning and applying proper cold storage maintenance techniques to help avoid future failures.
INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION
Earn recognition from internationally recognized publications and institutions such as Nature Magazine[...]
ABOUT
The Freezer Challenge at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is focused on engaging, educating, and motivating researchers, faculty, staff, and students to promote the best lab-management sample-storage practices and leadership in environmental stewardship. We started by participating in the National Freezer Challenge in the 2016-2017 academic year. During the 2017-18 academic year, and through efforts by the Eco-Olympics registered student organization and in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Division of Research Safety; the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE); the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC); and Facilities & Services, the university’s inaugural Freezer Challenge gained the participation of 60 researchers from 58 labs in 17 buildings and among 15 Colleges/departments to reduce annual consumption by 262,800 Kwh’s, an annual cost savings of over $20,000 and equivalent to the yearly energy use of 25 typical U.S. homes.
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Due to our awesome research community, the University of Illinois went on to win the competition in 2018 after saving 720 kWh/day from October 2017 through June 2018, awarding them 1st place and congratulating them as the best at reducing energy required for laboratory cold storage internationally [...]
COMMENTS FROM RESEARCHERS - 2018
Read past comments from researchers on what made them successful and how they navigated the competition.
COMMENTS FROM RESEARCHERS - 2018
Read past comments from researchers on what made them successful and how they navigated the competition.
2016
Year Joined
720kWh
Saved Daily in 2018
262,600
kWh
Saved Annually
in 2018
25
Homes Powered by Energy Saved
71
74
17
15
Researchers
Labs Participating
Buildings on Campus
Different Colleges
MEET THE RESEARCHERS
Lucienne Burrus
Meet Lucienne Burrus from the CABBI lab and hear her experience with the Freezer Challenge.
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LEARN MORE
Learn about our accomplishments in the 2019 International Freezer Challenge competition.
COMMENTS FROM RESEARCHERS - 2018
Read past comments from researchers on what made them successful and how they navigated the competition.
Learn about our accomplishments in the 2018 International Freezer Challenge competition.
COVID-19
What you can do from home to participate in the International Freezer Challenge.
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CONTACT
Inquiries
Project Leader: Madeline Barone
Email:
