Chemistry Lab Documents Energy Consumption of Lasers to Reveal Opportunity for Savings

The energy consumption of lab lasers is not well known and when the Fayer lab needed a new laser, Todd Eberspacher, the facilities manager for Stanford’s chemistry buildings, took the opportunity to measure the energy consumption of old and new equipment types. The new laser uses significantly less electricity for the same level of output and is directly cooled with the campus chilled water system, reducing the load on the building’s supply air fans. As a result, the new laser saves over $3,000 in energy costs annually. The Fayer lab received a $15,800 rebate for the replacement through the Energy Retrofit Program and will receive the same amount for other lasers it replaces. Other labs interested in updating their lasers are eligible for similar rebates.