"Shut the Sash" Contest at HMS
Why Fume Hoods?
Fume hoods actually account for much more energy use than you might expect, since the fan that operates the hood is only a small fraction of total energy use. Most fume hoods at HMS operated on a "variable air volume" system, which means the speed of the air circulating into the hood remains constant regardless of how high the sash is open, but the volume of air will vary depending on the size of the face opening. So, the larger the fume hood opening, the larger the volume of air circulated through the hood, and since most of this air comes from outside the building it must be heated and cooled, using significant amounts of energy.
If the fume hood is not in use, keeping the sash wide open WASTES about $1,500 in energy costs per year per hood, about the same as the average US household.
The Campaign
The Green Campus Initiative and HMS Operations Department ran "shut the sash" campaigns in five buildings last year, reaching out to hundreds of labs across campus. The campaign was run as a contest between labs, with a “Wine and Cheese Party” prize. The contest tapped into the innate competitive spirit of Harvard lab members, and brought some fun to the campaign, getting people to notice the message and to encourage the behavior for a month or so, which eventually became a habit.
“Shut the Sash” magnets were placed on each fume hood as a behavior prompt, and other outreach was conducted through posters, flyers, and emails. Regular audits were conducted in the building as well, which allowed for person contact with lab managers, strengthening the over-all campaign.
As a results of the campaign, the average sash opening in the five participating HMS buildings dropped from 12 inches to 2 inches. This program will save approximately
- $100,000+ in energy costs / yr
- 1,200,000 lbs of ghg emissions, equivalent to the emissions from 120 cars driven an average amount for a year
Posters & Magnets
Download posters for your lab to remind people to shut the sash.
Shut the Sash magnets
NRB Shut the Sash contest poster 1 (March 2007)
NRB Shut the Sash contest poster 2 (March 2007)
Want a Shut the Sash magnet? Email jaclyn_olsen@harvard.edu to get free magnets for your lab. (see the image at the top of the page).
Thank You!
A special thanks to all the lab members in Building C, Warren Alpert, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Seeley Mudd, NRB, and Armenise for your participation and enthusiasm during the campaigns. Your efforts really make a big difference.