Green labs
Birkbeck recognises that lab activities have a significant environmental footprint, and we have begun working to reduce these impacts. We are currently participating in two green labs schemes.
LEAF Labs
LEAF Labs is a programme aimed at wet labs (i.e. those that use chemicals). To receive certification, participants are expected to complete actions to meet different criteria under several categories. Depending on how many criteria are met, participants may be awarded either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold certification.
Categories included in LEAF Labs at the Bronze level include waste, people, purchasing, equipment, IT, sample and chemical management, research quality, and ventilation.
Birkbeck is in the process of completing audits for its first LEAF Labs awards for several of its natural sciences research labs.
Colleagues in Birkbeck’s School of Natural Sciences can view information relating to sustainability in labs at Birkbeck (SharePoint).
To find out more general information about sustainability in wet labs, please visit the following links:
- Lab sustainability - tips to become a greener lab
- Sustainable laboratories
- The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices
Green Disc
Green DiSC is a programme designed for computing, with options for either individual research groups to complete the programme or for central IT teams to participate at a wider level. It runs similarly to LEAF Labs, with participants asked to meet criteria across several different categories to receive certification. Currently, only a Bronze level award is available with different levels expected to become available later.
There are four categories for Green DiSC (General, Offices, Data Storage, and Compute) covering criteria such as sustainability inductions, e-waste processing, data storage and management, and computing infrastructure.
Birkbeck is progressing towards a Bronze certification for the Faculty of Science as a central team.
Postgraduate research students within Birkbeck’s Faculty of Science can view information about sustainable computing at Birkbeck.
To find out more general information about sustainable computing, please visit the following links:
- What Is Green IT? Definition and Benefits
- Ten simple rules to make your computing more environmentally sustainable
- GREENER principles for environmentally sustainable computational science
If you would like to find out more about Birkbeck’s sustainable labs initiatives, email net-zero@birkbeck.ac.uk.