Water usage in laboratories is a major sustainability concern, with labs consuming up to five times more water per square meter than typical office spaces. Beyond the environmental impact, inefficient water use can lead to significant financial costs. In this blog, Radleys explores practical strategies to enhance sustainability in benchtop chemistry, particularly within teaching and academic laboratories.
The Problem: Water Wastage
Laboratories are among the most water-intensive spaces in many institutions. For example, at the University of California, Berkeley, labs account for 19% of the university’s total water usage. Apart from the environmental implications, excessive water wastage leads to higher costs, with expenses amounting up to £480 per year for a single tap used for four hours daily.
One of the primary contributors to water wastage is the conventional practice of connecting water condensers to taps, resulting in the wastage of up to 600 litres of water per day. To address this issue, a sustainable alternative has been developed, the Findenser™.
The Solution: The Findenser™
The Findenser™ is a sustainable substitute for traditional water condensers. It consists of a glass condenser and an aluminium jacket with heat transfer fluid encapsulated in between. The finned aluminium jacket effectively removes heat from the solvent vapor and dissipates it into the air, eliminating the need for water cooling.
The Findenser™ offers numerous advantages over water condensers. Not only does it eliminate water consumption, but it also requires no power and provides a cleaner workspace without any tubing. Additionally, the Findenser™ maintains a similar solvent retention rate to water condensers, making it an efficient and sustainable choice for labs. The University of California San Diego has successfully replaced over 200 water condensers with Findensers™, leading to substantial water savings.
Energy Consumption: Heating Solutions
Energy consumption is another area in need of improvement in labs. Benchtop equipment, such as hotplates, is one of the major energy consumers in chemistry labs. Traditional heating methods, such as oil baths, not only pose safety hazards but also require significant amounts of energy to reach the desired temperature.
To address this issue, Heat-On blocks have been developed as an alternative to oil baths. Made from a single piece of aluminium, the Heat-On blocks transfer heat faster and require less energy compared to oil baths. The unique design and shape of the blocks ensure consistent and precise temperature control, resulting in faster reaction times and improved efficiency. The Radleys’ proprietary design ensures that flasks don’t crack. They gauge the glassware as you put it in the block. If you can put the flask in and spin it then it won’t ever crack as the block cools down.
Conclusion
Improving sustainability in academic labs is crucial for reducing water wastage and energy consumption. By adopting waterless condensers like the Findenser™ and replacing traditional heating methods with Heat-On blocks, labs can achieve significant improvements in sustainability, safety, productivity, and efficiency. Together, a positive impact can be made in enhancing the sustainability of academic labs.
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