Autoclaves & Sterilizers

Autoclaves are used to sterilize equipment, reagents, and hazardous waste in laboratories.   Most labs are equipped with large autoclaves, which are often over-sized for the needs of the lab (or the building).

Autoclaves and sterilizers are a necessity in the lab, but there are some smart and not-so-smart ways of using them.  For example:

• Consolidate loads.  Don't run an autoclave to sterilize a single box of pipette tips.
• Right-size your autoclave.  If you don't need a large autoclave, use a smaller one instead.
• Consider energy- and water-efficiency when purchasing autoclaves. 
• Install water-saving devices on existing autoclaves whenever possible.​