Shut the Sash
Fume hoods are major energy users in laboratories. By closing the sash when not in use, you can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower emissions and help create a more sustainable lab environment.
What you can do
If your lab is equipped with a fume hood, you can significantly reduce energy consumption by keeping the sash closed whenever the hood is not in use.
Whether you’re between experiments, stepping away for a break or wrapping up for the day, shutting the sash helps conserve energy and supports a more sustainable research environment.
An open fume hood can consume as much energy as 3.5 homes, not because of the equipment itself, but due to the constant flow of conditioned air being drawn through it.
For example, fume hoods can account for up to 20 per cent of the UBC Okanagan Science Building’s total energy consumption, largely due to the constant heating, cooling and ventilation of large volumes of air.
For safety, labs use 100 per cent outside air, which must be heated or cooled before being circulated. This process requires substantial energy, both for conditioning the air and operating the large fans that supply and exhaust it throughout the building.
Most newer or recently upgraded labs at UBC Okanagan are equipped with variable air volume fume hoods. These systems adjust airflow based on the sash height—the lower the sash, the less air is exhausted.
By keeping the sash closed when the hood is not actively in use, you reduce the volume of conditioned air required and lessen the load on the building’s ventilation systems, resulting in significant energy savings.
The sash acts as a key safety barrier between you and your experiment. It should remain closed unless you’re actively setting up, adjusting or working within the fume hood. Airflow continues even when the sash is shut, ensuring proper ventilation.
Avoid using fume hoods for chemical storage. Safety cabinets are the appropriate solution and do not rely on large volumes of airflow.
If your research group is no longer using a particular fume hood, consider having it locked and decommissioned to further reduce unnecessary energy use. To explore this option, contact Facilities Management.
Shut the Sash Challenge
The Shut the Sash Challenge is an annual six-week campaign designed to reduce energy use and emissions associated with laboratory fume hoods.
Through a friendly competition and spirit challenge, the initiative encourages lab users to adopt one simple but impactful habit—closing the sash when the fume hood is not in use.