How to Reduce ULT Energy Usage
Biobanks and biorepositories support critical global research initiatives by providing essential preservation for biological material and biospecimen storage. To ensure the continued safety of these often irreplaceable biological materials, the ultra-low temperature freezers (ULTs) that biobanks rely on must provide performance reliability, sample security, and temperature uniformity.
While these essential ULT freezer attributes are often weighed against the product’s cost, it is essential to
consider the entire cost of ownership. Laboratories are notorious for high energy usage. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one conventional ultra-low freezer requires approximately as much energy per day as an average U.S. household (20 kWh).
i Many biorepositories and biobanks have hundreds of ULT freezers. Yet whether you are buying one ULT or 600, the total cost of ULT ownership can be reduced by replacing older ULTs with the most energy efficient, ENERGY STAR® Certified models.
Reduce Laboratory Energy Consumption with ISBER 2023 Outstanding New Product
Earlier this year, the PHCbi brand launched our
most innovative, efficient ULT freezer to date, the VIP® ECO SMART. At the 2023 Annual Meeting in May, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) awarded the PHCbi brand VIP ECO SMART ultra-low temperature freezer model
MDF-DU703VH/
VHA-PA the
2023 Outstanding New Product Award. The ISBER annual meeting has been the premier event in biobanking education for over 20 years and is the only truly global event in biobanking. Each year, ISBER selects one new and innovative product in the biobanking field to honor with the award. All product submissions are reviewed by a team of expert judges who review entries based on technical innovation and originality, anticipated impact on the biobanking community and market demand, and data to support the product's value.
VIP ECO SMART Innovations and Energy Savings
The VIP ECO SMART series supports energy efficiency goals for biobanks and biorepositories, as well as pharmaceutical companies and healthcare institutions. It delivers the lowest daily energy usage of any ultra-low temperature freezer in its class: 5.40 kWh per day.ii The VIP ECO SMART has less heat output, resulting in lower HVAC costs and an overall reduction in energy consumption compared to other ULTs of the same size.
The VIP ECO SMART also helps increase lab performance efficiency while enhancing the security of stored specimens through SMART features, including facial recognition, optional NFC access, or PIN access. Controlled freezer access monitors who has entered the ULT freezer, and when, and tracks total door opening duration.
The VIP ECO SMART series was launched to respond to the demand for accurate, dependable, and secure preservation equipment that minimizes power consumption while maintaining preservation capability. The series consists of four models of HFC-free ultra-low temperature freezers that enable efficient and safe long-term storage of specimens and samples for researchers engaged in drug discovery and life science research. VIP ECO SMART freezer models are available in 25.7 cu. ft. (729 L) and 18.6 cu. ft. (528 L), at either 115V or 220V, providing flexibility to be used in a variety of settings.