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The International Freezer Challenge starts on January 1, and runs until Canada Day on July 1, every year. Labs can join any time before June 30, 2024, and include any cold storage management actions conducted between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

UU直播 lab users can follow the simple steps on the or kimberly.john [at] mcgill.ca (ask the UU直播 Office of Sustainability) to sign up their lab.

Before signing up, UU直播 lab users should discuss participation with their lab colleagues, , review the actions outlined by the challenge, and decide whether participation makes sense for their lab.

The International Freezer Challenge covers all forms of laboratory cold storage, including refrigerators, freezers, and cold rooms.

Any lab at UU直播 or an affiliated institute can sign up for the International Freezer Challenge if it uses cold storage for scientific samples. The competition defines a lab as 鈥渁 group of scientists that work and collaborate in a similar physical space while accessing the same fleet of cold storage equipment鈥�. This means an entire department would also be eligible to sign up as a single 鈥渓ab鈥�. Below are some of the fields that need to be filled out in the online form, along with examples of acceptable answers:

PI name or lab name: Principal investigator鈥檚 name, individual lab name, or department/institute name (if signing up as an entire department/institute)

Your Organization (Institution or Company Name): UU直播

Your Department: Academic department name or research institute name

There is no minimum number of actions a lab must take to be eligible for the International Freezer Challenge. Lab users should only do the actions that make sense for their lab or that PIs and other colleagues agree should be pursued. If an action is not applicable to a lab's context, it can be recorded as "not applicable" on the challenge scoresheet. The challenge is scored based on a combination of factors, including points earned per action, kWh saved, points earned per cold storage unit, and kWh saved per cold storage unit.

To participate in the International聽Freezer Challenge, lab users implement recommended changes and/or document their ongoing best practices related to cold storage management. These actions benefit both the planet and the scientists themselves by reducing the cost, risk, and energy consumption associated with inefficient cold storage practices. These practices include:

• Conducting preventative maintenance on cold storage equipment.

• Adjusting appliance temperatures to cool samples and reagents no more than needed.

• Retiring old equipment and, when necessary, upgrading to energy efficient appliances.

• Updating or creating an inventory for samples.

For practical guidance on how to implement best practices for lab fridges and freezers, consult the .

Once a lab聽has signed up, participants should review the International Freezer Challenge actions with their lab colleagues to decide which of them apply to the lab, as well as when and how they will take these actions.

The actions should be documented on the online scoresheet. After signing up, lab users can download a spreadsheet from the International Freezer Challenge website and use it to record actions taken. However, labs will need to enter and submit their actions using the online scoresheet by June 30, 2023, to qualify for the competition.

Lab users should regularly brush off the frost buildup inside their freezers. When ice cannot be easily removed from the interior walls or door of a freezer, it might be time for a full defrost.

Before removing frost buildup from a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, frost buildup can generally be removed from the gasket and sealing surfaces using a soft brush or cloth.

Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.

For more detailed instructions of how to remove frost buildup from a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

Before defrosting a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, the process will generally follow these steps:

1. Move all the samples to a different freezer unit. Find out if a neighbouring lab can share space in their freezer, or ask the building manager if a temporary freezer is available. Lab users聽working in the Life Sciences Complex or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a .

2. Place absorbent pads around the base of the unit. This will prevent flooding and slipping hazards. Additionally, remove any loose chunks of ice and place them in a bucket.

3. Turn off the freezer, unplug it, and leave the doors ajar. Let the unit thaw completely. This might take several days, so it is recommended to begin the process just before a weekend.

4. Clean and dry the interior of the freezer. Wipe the interior of the freezer, as well as the seals and the outer door with a soft lint-free cloth dampened with water and a mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Stainless steel parts can be disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol applied with a soft lint-free cloth.

5. Turn the freezer back on. Allow the unit about 12 hours to return to its operating temperature before transferring samples back to the freezer.

Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.

For more detailed instructions of how to fully defrost a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

Some buildings at UU直播 have freezers that lab users can use to temporarily store samples and materials while they defrost their freezer.

Lab users working in the Life Sciences Complex (which includes the Bellini, Cancer Research, McIntyre, and Stewart buildings) or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a .

Lab users associated with another faculty or research institute should contact their building manager to ask if a temporary freezer is available.

For more information about acquiring a temporary freezer at UU直播, please email labs.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.

Yes, preventative maintenance conducted by a service provider counts toward the actions taken by a lab, so long as it took place between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

Before cleaning the coils of a freezer or refrigerator, lab users should consult the appliance鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the coils can generally be cleaned by gently vacuuming or brushing them in the direction of the lines on the coil. Alternatively, a wet paper towel can be used to gently wipe the coils in the direction of the lines. Be careful not to bend the metal lines.

For more detailed instructions of how to clean the coils of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

A buildup of dust or grime on a freezer or refrigerator鈥檚 filter prevents normal airflow through the condenser, which hinders the appliance鈥檚 ability to effectively dissipate heat.

Before cleaning the filter, lab users should consult the appliance鈥檚 manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the filter can generally be cleaned by removing it and rinsing it with water. It is not necessary to dry the filter before placing it back in the freezer.

For more detailed instructions of how to clean the filter of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

Lab users who are considering raising the temperature of a freezer from -80 C to -70 C are encouraged to review the publications listed below and discuss the idea with their principal investigator and lab colleagues.

• Bousema, et al, (2020).

• Espinel-Ingroff et al, (2004).

• Thermofisher Scientific, SmartNote: .

Consult the International Freezer Challenge website for more information about .

The following tips can help ensure samples stored in a lab freezer or refrigerator are easy to find, thereby reducing the amount of time spent searching for samples while the door is open:

• Label all samples and spot check inventories on a regular basis.

• and a map with the location of samples in a freezer or refrigerator.

• Use radio frequency identification (RFID) or a barcode system, which is more affordable.

• Organize samples in secondary containers (e.g., plastic storage boxes).

• Properly dispose of samples that are unidentified or no longer needed.

Consult the UU直播 Hazardous Waste Management website for guidance on the聽proper disposal of unwanted samples.