Facilities Services Laboratory Ventilation & Greening of Cornell Labs Mark J Howe, PE, CEM Campus Energy Manager Ellen Sweet, MS, CCHO Laboratory Ventilation Specialist Cornell University

Making Climate Neutrality a Reality Actions to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, broaden academic research, and enhance educational opportunities and outreach efforts by the year Cornell’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) promotes the education and research needed to generate solutions for the challenges of global warming —and will demonstrate these solutions in campus operations. Climate Action Plan 2

1.Plan space to avoid new buildings 2.Reduce energy demand 3.Use renewable electricity and renewable heat 4.Offset business travel and commuting Four Tiered Strategy 3

4 Path to Carbon Neutrality

Energy Conservation Initiative (ECI) Phase I and II Phase I $10 Million project cost Energy savings target of $1M annually Phase II $33 Million project cost Energy savings target of $4M-$5M annually 5

Updating of controls and control logic Lighting – fixtures and occupancy control Complete Cx and Re-Cx of systems Humidification systems Conservation Project Elements 6

Endowed 2003 – 2017 (~5M GSF) CCF 2005 – 2017 (~4M GSF) Maintenance (Continuous Cx) Project Study Design Maintenance (Continuous Cx) Professional Schools (~1M GSF) Steps of ECI Campus Life (~3M GSF) 7

ECI Project Facts: Over 60 Facilities Over 90 projects Project Cost $33 million Project Savings: $6.3 million at billed rates with 5.3 year payback ECI project savings % energy savings from ECI project Steam: 126,000 klbs21% Chilled Water: 5,000,000 ton-hrs.25% Electric: 19,000,000 kwh17% 8

Energy Use vs Building Space 9

Laboratory ventilation is responsible for approximately half of all energy use on campus ~ $30 million per year at billed rates – How do we reduce this energy use? Re commissioning of laboratory spaces on campus from their current airflows to generally 6/3 ACH occ/unocc represents a very large potential savings - $ millions/year Work with EH&S to determine spaces that can have their airflow reduced from 8/4 ACH to 6/3 ACH occ/unocc – CFD analysis – Pilot testing Relax temperatures to reduce reheat Energy conservation in laboratories 10

Case Study Biotechnology Lab Airflow Re- Design 11

Biotechnology Existing Ductwork Design Existing 8” round perforated supply Existing general exhaust grille Five foot VAV fume hood 12

Smoke hangs low in lab as predicted with the CFD modeling Smoke permeates adjacent computer room – floor to ceiling as predicted with CFD modeling 6 ACH Smoke Test – Existing Design 13

6 ACH or 1 Air Change Every 10 minutes 6 ACH Smoke Test – Existing Design t = 0 min t = 7 min t = 10 min t = 11 min t = 13 min t = 15 min t = 17 min No visible smoke t = 20 min 14

Biotechnology New Ductwork Design 15

6 ACH Smoke Test - Redesign t = 0 min t = 1 min t = 4 min t = 7 min t = 9 min t = 10 mint = 11 min No visible Smoke t = 12 min 16

Smoke does not permeate into other lab room and adjacent computer room as predicted with the CFD modeling 6 ACH Smoke Test - Redesign 17

Vertex Average Parts Per Million of Acetone at 0.5ft. above Floor 18

Pilot installation determined per zone ~ $2,000 – Radial diffusers require careful selection Velocity, throw, direction, noise, price Biotechnology Lab Ductwork Modification 90 fume hood zones = $180,000 Savings $100,000/yr, less than a 2 year simple payback! 3 month installation 19

Lessons learned Further reduction in lab ventilation rates from 8/4 to 6/3 ACH minimum is possible It is not as simple as “just do it” because other have Ventilation effectiveness must be evaluated, and CFD is a cost effective tool to evaluate current and proposed design CFD should also be a part of new/major renovation design Turndown of max cooling to min ventilation is very challenging – can’t easily go from 12 to 3 ACH Pilot installs are very helpful in checking retrofits Working closely with EH&S can change paradigms and save significant energy in laboratory spaces 20

The Lab Ventilation Management System Energy Safety Energy Safety Plan Do Check Review

Our LVMP The Laboratory Ventilation Management Plan oversees lab ventilation systems with:  Multiple priorities (safety and sustainability)  Various ages and designs  Based on Continuous Improvement - it’s a systems process! Z9.5 Z10

Three Systems Working Together

ACH rate is the primary operational parameter Lab ACH is displayed in the control systems and cfm settings are based on calculations to maintain minimum ACH Pressure differential is managed CFM offsets between specific areas

Control Banding Lab General Ventilation Rates Control banding is a generic protection strategy that groups similar hazards into “control bands” Collaboration between EHS and Energy Mgmt. – 8/4 air exchanges per hour (ACH) – 6/3 air exchanges per hour (ACH)

Non- Chemical Drivers of Ventilation Rates Higher than 8/4 ACH Exhaust driven- many exhaust points or a small space with a fume hood High heat or humidity load High human or animal occupancy Specific environmental conditions required- Clean room Frequent changes in lab operations Lower than 6/3 ACH Low hazard/low volumes- Electronics labs with few chemical sources Local exhaust available to capture point sources- 3D printers Human occupancy or odor control is main driver Fan coil unit handles heat load and ventilation is not needed to control chemical emissions 26

Banding Assignment Process 8/4 ACH 6/3 ACH

Banding Chemicals Using Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Hazard CodeHazard Statement H224Extremely flammable liquid and vapor H225Highly flammable liquid and vapor H226Flammable liquid and vapor H304May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways H330Fatal if inhaled H331Toxic if inhaled H332Harmful if inhaled Design-to 8/4 ACH

Banding Chemicals Using Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Hazard CodeHazard Statement H334 May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties inhaled H335 May cause respiratory irritation 6/3 ACH

Risk Assessment Process- Chemical Risks Concentration- impacts toxicity, sensitization, and odor concerns Location of use- in the fume hood or on the bench Quantity- small quantities (100ml of volatile chemical) or large volumes (several liters on the bench) Availability and proper use of local exhaust

Risk Assessment Process- Ventilation Effectiveness 2 Tools We’ve Used 1.Computational Fluid Dynamic models: about $10,000/lab, usually used for new labs, where there is a project budget and easily available room dimensions. 2.Use CO 2 fire extinguishers to measure gas decay patterns within an existing laboratory: less than $100 per test (not counting our time). Fire extinguisher

The Importance of Ventilation Effectiveness Ventilation controls chemical contaminants by promoting exponential decay of the concentration of those contaminants. The decay rate for a specific chemical release depends on the location of the source relative to the ventilation system, as this impacts the ventilation rate there. One measurement for the room does not describe the general ventilation rate for a particular place in the lab or a particular event in the lab.

Typical Results The goal is get a uniform concentration of CO 2 in the space. The success of this is indicated by the shape of the curve. Parameters of interest: Peak CO 2 level suggests how strong the source was Decay rate (expressed as ACH or half-life) r-squared of the decay curve (typically > 0.9) Time to peak CO 2

Risk Assessment Process- Housekeeping

RCx Ventilation Systems apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/.../pdfs/.../sustainable_guide_ch9.pdf 3

Recent RCx Mann Library, Plant Science, Kinzelberg, Morrison Total projected savings- $111,500/ Yr instep-ebs.fs.cornell.edu/default.aspx

ECI and RCx of Mann Library Commissioning work of labs reduced 4850 cfm = $29,000 in energy costs

Closer look at HEB Recalibrated sash position sensors = Airflows ramp up faster providing better user protection Control Banding = 15,731 cfm Other issues identified were space temperature controls that, when remedied, provide more stability in the mechanical systems Corrected fume hood minimum exhaust flows = 4725 cfm savings 24/7

Closer look at HEB Air handler allowed to ramp up and down as it should

Triggers for Reviews Energy projects Space changes as managed by facility managers Complaints from the occupants Revisit frequencies during reviews and inspections

Climate Neutrality by 2035  Broad vision for the campus.  Lab ventilation constitutes about 1% of the $60 million energy costs per year.  Cornell’s fume hood exhausts represent about 15% of Tompkins County’s carbon footprint.  Ventilation is the largest user of energy in labs. –One fume hood = 3 households annual energy usage. –Lowering your fume hood sash is both safer and conserves energy.  Cold storage of samples is the second largest use of energy.

What is a Green Lab? Includes environmental impacts as well as health and safety in its operational decisions Acts as a community leader by sharing more sustainable practices with their peers Conformance Compliance Beyond Compliance January 12, “I applaud the initiative that the GPSA has taken in Resolution 5 (“Creation of an Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee”) to advance Cornell’s sustainability outcomes.” Former President Skorton

How the Cornell Green Labs Program can help… Recognize current Greening work happening in Cornell labs Provide resources to educate community about energy conservation and waste reduction opportunities in laboratories Identifying laboratory greening opportunities from national peers

The Program- Areas of Focus Chemical Management Green Chemistry Solid Waste Management Laboratory Energy Conservation Water & Steam Community Wellbeing Research Innovative Practices

The Program Goals Support general ventilation rate reduction - Consider Green Chemistry Principles - Maintain chemical inventory - Minimize chemicals on-hand - Store and use chemicals appropriately Reduce plug load and heat - Sample inventory, consolidation and long- term cryogen storage for “historic” samples

Recent Developments CU Design Standard that includes 80 fpm hoods including “high performance” hoods Update of Green lab Resource Guides Developing ULT freezer guidance and awareness Developing campus wide hazardous gas standards Fume hood hibernation and Green Lab becoming more commonplace

Additional information sp.ehs.cornell.edu/lab-research- safety/chemical-safety/lab- ventilation/Pages/default.aspx

Students Influencing Specific Activities  Lower the sash- 50% of fume hoods are variable volume. - Lowering sash reduces ventilation by 75%.  Maintain lab refrigerators and freezers- each minus 80 freezer uses roughly the same as an American home.  Identify energy efficient new equipment.  Engage peers.  Explore the least impactful processes.

Climate Neutrality cont.  Cornell’s fume hood exhausts represent about 15% of Tompkins County’s carbon footprint.  Ventilation is the largest user of energy in labs. –One fume hood = 3 households annual energy usage. –Lowering your fume hood sash is both safer and conserves energy.  Cold storage of samples is the second largest use of energy.

Questions? 50