In March 2025, 10 CU Anschutz labs began the My Green Lab Certification program. The no-cost program customizes sustainable actions for labs based specifically on their unique research and processes. The Green Labs Program offers tools for researchers to conduct more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly research with easy-to-implement quick fixes.
The 10 labs currently participating in the pilot program represent a wide array of research focus areas and span the campus. Participating labs began the My Green Lab Certification process with a survey covering their lab specifications, equipment and procedures, and received tailored frameworks to implement over time.
Green Labs Program
8 of 10 labs participating in the pilot program report:
- 69 MtCO₂e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) reduced annually
- $20,500/year in energy cost savings
- Environmental impact equivalent to removing ~15 passenger vehicles from the road for a year
Derek Cooper, MPH, Green Labs coordinator, has led campus to the early successes of the certification program. Cooper said, “The great work from our labs in this pilot is proof that these small changes have a big impact. CU Anschutz's goal is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which is the benchmark set in our Climate Action Plan and Energy Master Plan.”
One of those labs – the Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes (LEAD) Center – was the first to complete the certification. Theresa Anderson, MS, biorepository operations manager for the LEAD Center, said, “The process was a lot simpler than expected and improved our lab processes overall. My Green Lab gave us customized recommendations that were easy to implement and train others on.”
A few simple steps have resulted in a big impact: defrosting freezers, turning off centrifuges every evening and closing fume hoods.
Interested in the My Green Lab Certification program? Add your lab to the waitlist.