Penn Labs Freezer Challenge!

The Penn Labs Freezer Challenge runs from January 1-July 31, 2025, in participation with I2SL's International Freezer Challenge. Labs at Penn can register any time until June 30, 2025 by filling out this form.

Earn points by completing a variety of voluntary actions. Work with your lab to decide which actions make sense for your lab, then submit this survey once those actions have been completed. Please note, all actions that have been taken since August 1, 2024 count for this years' challenge! In August 2025, lab with the highest energy savings at Penn will be announced and celebrated with a popsicle party supplied by Lil Pop Shop in West Philly.

Email sustainability@upenn.edu with questions or concerns. Thank you for working to advance sustainable lab practices at Penn!

Your Name (First and Last)

Your email address

What is your position in the lab?

Name of Principal Investigator or Lab Name:

Please select the option that best describes the subject area of the lab group(s) represented by this scoresheet:

Biology, biochemistry, genetics, etc.
Chemistry
Ecology, Geology, Botany, Evolutionary Biology, Conservation, field-based studies
Health sciences, anatomy, clinical research
Pathology, histology
Agriculture, bioengineering, etc.
Other (please enter below)

Please select the option that best describes the lab group you are submitting this scoresheet for:

A shared cold storage resource, core facility or biorepository
An entire department, R&D facility, or branch of an organization
Other (please provide details below)

Lab Location (Building name, room number, address):

What is your motivation for participating in the Freezer Challenge? (select all that apply)

Prizes
Leadership opportunities (blog post, photos, recognition)
Intrinsic motivation (care about the environment, sustainability, etc.)
Friendly competition with peers and colleagues
Improving lab best practices
Other

Identify the number of cold storage units in each category that you have done a full defrost on, meaning you have removed all samples, turned the unit off, allowed all ice to melt, and then turned the unit back on again.

Mechanical -96°C or colder freezers that DO NOT use Liquid Nitrogen as primary cooling agent:
ULT freezers (between -40°C and -96°C):
-20°C freezers:

Identify the number of cold storage units in each category from which you have removed dust/debris from the intake, filters, and coils.

Mechanical -96°C or colder freezers that DO NOT use Liquid Nitrogen as primary cooling agent:
ULT freezers (between -40°C and -96°C):
-30°C and/or -40°C freezers:
-20°C freezers:
4°C refrigerators:

Identify the number of cold storage units in each category where you have done either of the following: a). brushed the frost from inside the freezer door or cabinet/shelves; b). cleared the door gaskets and seals of frost or ice by gently tapping/brushing them (no scraping!). Only count each of your lab's cold storage units ONCE for this question, and only record data here if you actually needed to perform one of these best practices due to frost/ice buildup.

Mechanical -96°C or colder freezers that DO NOT use Liquid Nitrogen as primary cooling agent:
ULT freezers (between -40°C and -96°C):
-30°C and/or -40°C freezers:
-20°C freezers: