From January to June 2025, UBC researchers participated in the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, a campaign promoting best practices in laboratory cold storage management.
Over the challenge, participants took steps to defrost and de-ice freezers, clean coils and filters, create or update sample inventories, discard outdated samples, 'Chill Up' Ultra Low Temperature freezers, and much more. The participants of this year’s challenge collectively took a whopping 283 actions to make their labs more sustainable, equivalent to savings of over 10,000 kWh annually.
Combined, their efforts have led to an estimated $8,049.27 total annual energy savings from the challenge. That is the equivalent of retiring 531 standard chest freezers, and emission reductions of 1,313.01 kg CO2-equivalent! A special thank you to all UBC's participating labs, and a big congratulations to the winning groups!
Highest kWh Savings Overall
- UBC BioBank | Life Sciences Centre, Point Grey Campus
- BRAES Labs | Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services, Okanagan Campus
- Hart Lab | Department of Biology, Okanagan Campus
Most Actions Taken per Unit
- Sustainable Water Innovation and Research Laboratory (SWIRL) | Chemical and Biological Engineering Building, Point Grey Campus
- Exercise, Metabolism and Inflammation Lab | School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Okanagan Campus
- Rieseberg Lab | Biodiversity Research Centre, Point Grey Campus
Honourable Mention: Health, Safety & Environment Program | Okanagan Campus
Want to get in on the action? Don’t worry! The 2026 Freezer Challenge is coming soon, and you can fill out this form to be notified when it begins. Thank you to all participating labs!