The Office of Energy & Sustainability has purchased a new Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer (ULT) - commonly referred to as “-80 freezers”– that will be available for short-term storage to encourage WCM labs to conduct annual maintenance on their own units.
Why is this important?
ULTs are some of the most energy-intensive plug-load equipment utilized in WCM labs. These units should be serviced and defrosted annually to maintain efficiency, though many labs find this task challenging without an alternative -80 freezer to store samples during the defrosting process.
How can we transfer our samples safely to this unit while performing maintenance?
Upon request, lab groups will be provided a freezer defrosting kit, which includes an ice scraper, brush, cloth wipes, and portable wheeled cooler for sample transportation. Dry ice can be purchased at the loading docks to maintain sample temperature during transportation. Departments must submit a fund number and the amount of weight of dry ice removed. Lab members will be escorted to the new -80°C defrosting freezer located in the mechanical room on the 8th floor of 1300 York Avenue.
This unit has been enrolled in the EHS Minus 80 Monitoring Program to keep the temperature monitored at all times, giving an extra layer of safety.
How can I schedule a time to use this ULT to perform annual maintenance?
If your Lab wants to use this free service, please complete the Backup Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Booking Form. The unit can be reserved for a maximum of one week, and Lara Pes, Sustainability Manager, will provide access. Labs should plan to use the freezer for 2-4 days, depending on the amount of ice build-up.
For more information about ULT maintenance best practices, please review the Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Maintenance Guide on the Energy and Sustainability website. For questions regarding the Minus 80 Monitoring Program maintained by EHS please click here.
If you have any questions:
Please contact Lara Pes, Sustainability Manager, at lap2017@med.cornell.edu.