This semester-long competition, organized by My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, encourages research institutions to reduce the energy use of cold storage units. Labs report preventative maintenance they've done on their cold storage units such as discarding old samples, decommissioning unused or outdated refrigerators and freezers, performing preventative maintenance and more. At the end of the challenge, labs find out exactly how many kilowatt hours they've saved throughout the year (from July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the current year).  Make this annual competition part of your lab’s routine to extend the life of your units, keep your lab organized, and lower your carbon footprint.

The UVA Freezer Challenge occurs every year from January until June - we encourage you to sign up for the next challenge!

Sign up here - Freezer Challenge

Did you know? UVA won the Top Academic Organization Award in the 2022 International Freezer Challenge, saving approximately 14 households' worth of energy. In 2023, we saw a record number of labs - 39! - participate in the challenge, with the Kibbe-Tsihlis Lab (pictured above) leading the charge. Learn more here. 

Take a look at some of the faces that have participated in the Freezer Challenge in recent years: