Labs21

Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) was a voluntary partnership program dedicated to improving the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories. Sponsored by EPA and the DOE, EPA funding ended in 2012, and the remaining program activities are now managed by the International Insitute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), including the annual I2SL conference (formerly the Labs21 conference). Program resources are provided on the website of I2SL and linked to on the DOE program page. EO 13423 requires Federal agencies to reduce energy intensity by 3% annually through the end of FY15, or 30% by the end of FY15, relative to a FY03 baseline. This requirement includes laboratories and industrial facilities. Sponsored by EPA and the DOE, Labs21 aims to improve laboratory energy and water efficiency, encourage the use of renewable energy sources, and promote environmental stewardship amongst the laboratory community. The program aims to help new and retrofitted laboratories cut energy costs and reduce environmental damage by creating energy self-sufficiency for all EPA labs and modeling these savings for other science labs throughout the country.

Want to know more about this policy ? Learn more