Freezer Challenge 2023

The UGA Green Labs program is inviting all UGA research labs to participate in the 2023 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge now to July 1. This is a global competition designed to promote best practices in cold storage management, and the impacts are significant. Last year alone, over 1,200 participating labs with over 12,000 cold storage units saved a total of 6,732 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to the energy consumption of over 1,300 homes in one year.

By participating in the challenge, researchers can decrease their energy consumption, learn better cold storage management techniques, increase the security of their vital samples, prolong the life of laboratory equipment, and win prizes for doing it! The UGA Green Labs program has resources available to help labs get the most out of this challenge and wants to help your lab win! 

Through the support of UGA Utility and Energy Management, the UGA lab that takes the most action will win a free high-efficiency, ultra-low freezer (a value of $15k). All labs that register for the Freezer Challenge will be eligible for a free filter and coil cleaning training, and the first 30 labs to sign up will be given a free freezer defrost kit courtesy of UGA Green Labs. All participants are also invited to enjoy an end-of-semester pizza party, provided by PHCbi! Act now—the deadline is July 1, 2023. 

Click here for more information. Reach out to Greenlab@uga.edu or UGA’s Freezer Challenge Site Coordinator, Anna Lentz @  Anna.Lentz@uga.edu  with any questions.  Please also reach out if your lab is interested in purchasing a new freezer between now and July 1st, as special offers have been extended to the UGA community which we’d love to share with you! 

Contest Details: All UGA labs are eligible to participate, across any UGA campus. The UGA lab that scores the highest on the Freezer Challenge, with a minimum of 20 points, will win a new high-efficiency ultra-low freezer (a value of $15K).