The non-profit Jackson Laboratory is a world-renowned bio-medical research institution and a leading provider of genetically defined mice whose mission is to improve the quality of human life through discoveries arising from their genetic research and by enabling the research and education of others.
In 2003, Jackson Laboratory began a program of measuring and benchmarking its energy use through a metering and software system that allows it to measure, monitor, and control energy use from select office computers. The Laboratory has also installed variable speed drives and advanced burner controls on its boiler plant, and is in a continuing process of upgrading and retrofitting its lighting systems throughout the facility.
The Jackson Laboratory supports training and further education of its engineering and operations staff, which includes two certified Energy Managers, and three certified Building Operators. Energy awareness and conservation are annual facilities performance goals and are explicitly noted on departmental and individual performance evaluations. Energy plant operations personnel are provided with semi-annual refresher training regarding automated boiler and chiller operating control algorithms to assure optimum operating parameters for the plant systems under their control.
The Laboratory has achieved a 16 percent and eight percent unit decrease in fuel oil and electricity consumption respectively since its energy conservation program inception in 2003. During this period the facility has grown by over 100,000 gsf with new research facilities being designed from the start to include energy efficient equipment, building methods, and technologies to assure that the lowest operating costs possible can be achieved while meeting their unique business operational requirements.