According to the 2022 United Nations Emissions Gap Report, on the current policies of world governments we are tracking to 2.8 degrees of heating by the end of this century. On the basis of promises made so far, we are headed for 2.4 to 2.6 degrees.
All sectors of the Australian economy including buildings and construction need to take bold action to rapidly reduce emissions. Laboratories are a special case with an outsized footprint using five to ten times more energy compared to office buildings.
The new Laboratory Benchmarking Tool (LBT) is the foundation of Labs2Zero program designed to accelerate a transition to real zero emissions. This ambitious program from the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratory’s (I2SL) assists owners, managers, designers and engineers to take urgent steps to decarbonise energy, buildings and construction.
For the first time Australia can join the global community to benchmark energy and emissions with their peers. Comprised of 1,000 plus buildings LBT helps prioritise opportunities to reduce emissions within a portfolio of buildings and provide context for public disclosure data. The tool is free to use.
FAQ
What information should I have available before I start to enter a new building?
The LBT includes a large number of data fields on each building. Some of these fields are mandatory. Please provide as many of the optional fields as you can! Please see this document for a full list of all LBT data fields.
Who should use the LBT tool?
The tool is designed to be used by a wide range of professionals, including facility owners, energy managers, consultants, and design engineers. It can be used to benchmark labs from any industry sector, including commercial, academic, government, and healthcare sectors.
20 minute introduction to LBT
Become an I2SL member, volunteer, sponsor
I2SL is dedicated to advancing sustainable laboratories globally. As a not-for-profit organisation I2SL can only do its work with support of members and sponsors.
Membership forms are here. If you are interested in volunteering your time on a working group or if you have any questions, contact John.
Ready to start your project?
For a free, no-obligation discussion of your project and needs, email John today or call 61 7 5619 3747.