Shut the Sash is a six-week competition to save energy through one simple action—closing laboratory fume hoods. This year, Chemistry D and E labs took the challenge. Interested to start a competition in your building or department? Contact us at green.labs@ubc.ca. 

How does it work and what can we win?

There are two ways for your lab to win one of two $200 prizes* to celebrate your success:

  • Most Improved: The lab with the biggest improvement in sash best practice during the competition compared to baseline wins the prize.

  • Lowest average sash height: To win this category your lab will have achieved the lowest average exhaust rates over the competition period.

WIN THE SPIRIT TROPHY

Demonstrate your team’s enthusiasm and collective spirit for Shut the Sash by completing spirit challenge tasks. Your lab will be awarded points for each activity completed. The lab with the greatest number of points wins the spirit trophy.

Please adhere to safe lab protocols; teams engaging in unsafe practices to minimize fume hood usage will result in the team being disqualified from the competition.

Teams that tamper with other lab’s fume hoods (e.g. open them without permission), or otherwise compromise their chance of winning, will also be disqualified.

*please note, award may not be used to purchase alcohol.
 

How will you determine the winner?

We compare fume hoods air flow during the competition to the baseline period before the competition.  This is monitored through the building management system which samples and stores data every few minutes. We then calculate the energy needed to heat, cool, and move that air.   The more you shut your sash, the more air flow is reduced, and the less energy you lose!

What if my experiment has cords or tubes?

Some experiments involve power cords or tubing that prevents full closure of the sash. In most cases, if sashes are closed to the cord/tube, your participation will not be significantly impacted.