Shown is the University of Oregon pre-1992 laboratory.

The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute describes green chemistry as the “design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.” Like green building, green chemistry is a commitment to continuous improvement toward sustainability in design. More than that, green chemistry has the potential to alter laboratory design as we know it.

Whereas the safety goal of traditional laboratories is to reduce exposure to hazards, green chemistry eliminates many hazards in laboratories. If there exists little or no hazard in the chemicals being used, a laboratory spill, for example, will not endanger researchers or necessitate a potentially costly, time-consuming and work-disruptive cleanup.

Preventative measures can be costly, so greening a chemical process makes fiscal sense. Traditionally, the more toxic and dangerous a chemical process, the more advanced, and typically energy intensive, safety precautions are required to prevent accidents. Paul Anastas, Ph.D, director of the Green Chemistry Institute, writes, “It is through this method that the costs of everything, from engineering controls, to personal protective gear, to regulatory compliance, can be minimized, if not avoided, and the associated expenditures prevented.” Through a commitment to green chemistry curriculum, the impact on laboratory design, both in terms of operations and capital costs, can be huge.

Green Chemistry Lab Design

The University of Oregon Green Chemistry program, one of the first green chemistry laboratories on a university campus, was developed in response to increased student enrollment, inadequate laboratory space, and a small renovation budget. It was found that the program’s pre-1992 laboratory, able to accommodate 60 students, relied on a chemical ventilation system that inadvertently deposited exhaust in the neighboring laboratory prep room. The awareness of this condition spurred immediate action to improve the laboratory environment and safety, and in 1992, new laboratories in the building were renovated to include additional fume hoods — one for every two students.

With the additional fume hoods taking up valuable bench space, the new lab was able to accommodate only 18 students. However, with a shortage of space, lab sections were held on weekends or at night, thereby taxing instructors and students with elongated schedules. Alternatives to this situation were to either hire additional staff, or add additional laboratory space, both of which proved to be costly options. The solution was to rework the chemistry curriculum to reduce the number of chemicals that required the use of fume hoods. The University of Oregon Green Chemistry was born! The newest of the laboratories was easily retrofitted from an existing storeroom space and, with relatively few hoods, the configuration allowed open lines of sight to students working on benches and hoods, as well as daylight and views through the extensive glazing in the space. Interestingly, with a reduction in hazardous practices, it is possible for an instructor to oversee additional students safely and effectively.

Traditional laboratories consume three to eight times more energy than other buildings, largely because of high ventilation rates and associated energy loads. Because of a reduced level of risk in green chemistry labs, it is possible to reduce the number of required air changes, extend ventilation setbacks, or utilize remote air sampling systems to ensure good indoor air quality. Likewise, green chemistry reduces the number of chemical storage areas and hazardous waste disposal measures and fees. Collectively, these measures can result in real savings. In the case of University of Oregon, reducing the number of hoods from 22 to five saves in the order of $90,000 annually and also reduced the renovation costs by one-third, according to research performed by Kathryn E. Parent in 2006.

The 1992 laboratory renovations feature additional fume hoods.

Furthermore, additional bench space accommodates a greater number of researchers per floor, or a smaller building, substantially reducing laboratory construction and operating costs. In conventional labs, a great number of hoods must be arranged along the perimeter, thereby reducing the potential for effective daylighting and views in the space, or grouped together back to back or in alcoves. Therefore, a compromise is created between good sight lines and daylight and views. With fewer hoods, both important objectives can be achieved.

As laboratory loads shift from ventilation-driven to heat-gain driven loads, opportunities arise for additional efficiencies, such as the use of radiant cooling systems and chilled beams. It is easier to condition a space when having to only remediate the heat load as opposed to excessive ventilation loads. Along these lines, it makes good sense to look for root problems and upstream solutions, rather than trying to treat the symptoms. As fewer toxic chemicals are used in the laboratories, additional heat recovery options such as enthalpy wheels become more desirable because of the reduced risk of toxic entrainment through cross contamination.

The savings from the reduced number of hoods and associated mechanical systems, as well as a reduced floor-to-floor height because of smaller ductwork, can be invested in enhanced green features, such as a more efficient mechanical system or green curriculum development, in the case of a university. A typical modern chemistry lab costs between $350-400 per square foot, resulting in bench space that costs approximately $2,000 per linear foot in a market such as Atlanta. That cost can quadruple in places like New York City. When combined with avoided costs of $15,000 per installed fume hood and associated ductwork and HVAC capacity, green chemistry offers the potential for tremendous savings.

Not only are there real operational and capital savings in the laboratory, associated environmental impacts are radically reduced. It is important to understand the benefits of applying these principles, especially to laboratory buildings that require large inputs of energy to operate, and elaborate systems to treat and dispose of waste. With the evolution and implementation of green chemistry practices, the design process of the building and its systems can in turn become more efficient and sustainable — and positively impact students, researchers and the community at large.