My Green Lab to speak at AASHE

Join My Green Lab and other distinguished panelists at AASHE for conversations about engagement in green lab programs:

Behavior Catalyzing Sustainable Change 10/27/2014

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, B112

Furthering sustainability on campus and across the globe requires a team effort at shaking up the process, perceptions and habits to consider a new, more sustainable path. This panel will offer diverse perspectives from a campus sustainability director, office product supplier, and a consumer goods manufacturer. Each panelist is driving to make campus life more sustainable through changing behaviors and offers experience in leading corporate sustainability, green procurement and implementing process optimizations. The panelists will be given questions to answer with healthy debate and collaboration across the various functions to ensue. The panelists will challenge our understandings of how to best implement behavior change to drive sustainable transformation on campuses while maintaining a productive and healthy environment.


Making Greener Labs Programs a Value Add 10/28/2014

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, C121, 122

Research and teaching laboratories have a special set of circumstances that impact sustainability intervention efforts. Labs are high-impact both in terms of resource use and in terms of student learning, and not surprisingly they represent some of the most high risk and deeply-entrenched interests. We have found that labs are often the “final frontier” of sustainable operations and collaboration on campuses. Based on examples of Greener Labs programs at four research institutions, and with additional input from an industry expert, this session will convey best management practices for bridging the gap between researchers and EHS personnel so that Greener Labs projects can be a valuable addition to their lab environment rather than an additional burden or increased risk. Presenters will share how they have partnered with labs, EH&S, sustainability officers, facilities personnel, and engineering firms to add value for all. Case studies and programs from four separate research institutions will be discussed in this session. Three of the cases heavily engaged lab occupants in the process of investigating opportunities and co-creating solutions. Two of the cases included large scale energy efficiency programs in large laboratory buildings. One of the projects targeted integration with EHS. Approaches, results, and best practices from all campuses will be shared. Allison Paradise of the non-profit organization My Green Lab will speak about marketing of green labs programs to EHS, researchers, and purchasing departments. John Cook of UC Riverside will discuss the planning stage of setting up green labs – from developing a new lab for newly hired professors to addressing concerns from entrenched researchers and skeptical EH&S staff. Klara Olofsdotter Otis, a scientist and a lab manager at UCLA, will give her view on what factors are important to make labs enthusiastic about participating in green labs initiatives. Meggie Patton of Brown University will speak about working with EH&S staff to optimize the Greener Labs program at Brown for EH&S personnel, researchers, and sustainability staff. Bill Spratt of Worcester Polytechnic Institute will speak about their new and growing Greener Labs program which first focused on efficiency and fume hoods in the largest laboratory building on campus. Ben Datema, a Sustainability Program Coordinator with GreenerU and experienced Greener Labs implementer, will serve as moderator.