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Fact Sheets

See below to download our Fact Sheets, additional references and further information! Some Fact Sheets also include slide decks for presentation during lab meetings.

Fact Sheets

See below for some of our fact sheets, with additional information, references, and slide decks (when appropriate) below each fact sheet. Each fact sheet has multiple versions, so you can choose how much information you want to share with your lab!

Check out our Lab Spring Clean Event page for all of our most recently updated resources and information about recycling programs, waste disposal, inventories, signage, clean up how-tos, and so much more!

You can also visit our Green Labs Certification page to learn more about Certification for your lab. To get certified, finish the easy, 30-minute Green Labs Certification and submit it to sustainability@caltech.edu. There are many benefits to Certification, including being awarded a Green Labs Certified plaque to post outside your lab spaces, access to items such as free recycling bins, energy-efficiency signage, exclusive Green Labs events, and much much more!

Energy Vampire Fact Sheet (simple)

Energy Vampire Fact Sheet (detailed)

Energy Star Fact Sheet (simple)

Energy Star Fact Sheet (detailed)

Appliances that are Energy Star rated

Freezers, refrigerators, ice machines: are at least 9% more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators offer high performance features such as high-efficiency compressors that create less heat and use less energy, improved insulation that helps items stay cold, and temperature and defrost mechanisms that help the refrigerator operate more efficiently.

When searching for models, check the box for ‘Refrigerant type = low impact on global warming'.

Lab Grade Refrigerators and Freezers

Consider selecting lab grade refrigerators and freezers with a lower Global Warming Potential refrigerant. Freezers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are at least 10 percent more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard. An ENERGY STAR certified chest freezer uses about 215 kWh of electricity and costs about $30 per year to run, while an ENERGY STAR certified upright freezer uses about 395 kWh of electricity and costs about $60 per year to run. ENERGY STAR certified freezers utilize advanced technology and offer high performance features such as high-efficiency compressors and evaporators, improved design and insulation, and temperature and defrost mechanisms that deliver substantial energy savings.

Other Products:

Ice machines: can save 10-16% energy saving and up to 20% water savings

Computers: are third-party certified to be energy efficient and use 25% - 40% less than conventional models by using the most efficient components and better managing energy use when idle

Slates and Tablets: if ENERGY STAR certified, include performance specification that covers desktops, integrated desktops, notebooks, slate/tablets, portable all-in-ones, thin clients, and workstations, tailoring the criteria to each product type. It provides a base allowance per product type, which limits the amount of energy the product can consume and then adds allowances for features that increase energy demand. In addition, the specification sets requirements for power management. These are set so that the display will go to sleep within 15 minutes of user inactivity and the system will go to sleep within 30 minutes of user activity.

Monitors: on average, monitors that have earned the ENERGY STAR are 7% more energy efficient than standard options.

Imaging Equipment: select ENERGY STAR certified printers, copiers, and scanners to save energy and money! They are third party certified to be energy efficient and save up to 35 percent versus conventional equipment by using the least amount of energy when working, and most importantly, when they are doing nothing.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Phones: use approximately 40 percent less energy than conventional VoIP phones, and come with advanced features that allow the phone to power down and enter an "off" mode at designated times or during periods of inactivity.