The forgotten stakeholder: decarbonization in occupied spaces

Laboratories are not ordinary workspaces. They often operate around the clock and have some of the highest energy use intensity of most building types. So how do building managers handle decarbonization in occupied spaces such as these?

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If you’ve ever been through a home renovation project involving a contractor, you are likely familiar with what it’s like to be displaced from a portion or even the entirety of your home.

A bathroom may be out of commission for a while, forcing you to shower at the gym each day or use the Port-a-Potty your contractor set up in the lawn. Your refrigerator might be located on your porch for two months. You might be using your grill to make dinner every night. (Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.)

But when it comes to medical, pharmaceutical, or other science-related laboratories, it’s not merely an inconvenience to move furniture and appliances around. In some cases, there is potentially lifesaving research going on. Decades-old samples may be stored in deep freezers. Live experiments may be kept in precise conditions of just the right temperature and lighting.

It’s no wonder that principal investigators (PIs) are skeptical of laboratory upgrades of any kind. It’s an enormous risk, and a huge leap of faith, to turn the keys over to anyone. Effecting decarbonization in occupied spaces with sensitive research is an effort that demands trust.

How does one gain the trust of laboratory stakeholders?

There are many stakeholders in academic or professional laboratories when it comes to construction, energy conservation, and/or decarbonization project management: building owners, facilities managers, principal investigators, researchers, students, administrators, staff, custodians, and more.

Understanding the distinct challenges and perspectives of each of these stakeholders goes a long way toward establishing a trusting relationship. Developing a chart of stakeholder priorities at the beginning of a project to understand and appreciate their concerns may be helpful in gaining their trust.

Table. — Example laboratory construction stakeholder map

Stakeholder(s)	Job(s)	Construction mitigation plan
Facilities	“Keep the lights on” Replace aging equipment Reduce energy use	Develop laboratory upgrade strategies to ensure continuous operations and reduce energy use
Principal investigators	Maintain integrity of research Fulfill grant requirements Manage research team Maintain lab safety conditions, including proper ventilation Maintain sensitive lab equipment	Listen and answer questions Respond to inquiries promptly Coordinate to develop construction schedules Provide regular updates in writing Always keep lines of communication open
Researchers	Maintain integrity of research Fulfill grant requirements Follow safety guidelines	Communicate construction schedules Provide regular updates via posters, email, and verbally Encourage communication through PIs
Building owners	Uphold institutional mission Balance budget	Develop laboratory upgrade solutions that work within budgetary constraints Avoid operational disruption

In laboratories, high-stakes research can create a lot of stress. Laboratory researchers can be managing multiple studies in several disciplines. Current federal cuts to health and pharmaceutical laboratory research, particularly at higher-education institutions, has created even more tension and uncertainty. The last thing laboratory researchers need is to worry about their work being disrupted by decarbonization in occupied spaces.

How GreenerU manages construction in occupied spaces

GreenerU has developed a reputation for addressing the needs and concerns of lab managers before, throughout, and following construction projects involving decarbonization in occupied spaces. We take a custom approach to each project, whether that’s working nights and weekends around regular laboratory activity or coordinating with building users to develop a schedule that works for them.

Part of this approach may involve a town-hall-style meeting prior to commencement of construction to provide background and gather information from stakeholders. It may involve close and careful listening to what laboratory managers prioritize in meetings and in discussions. When the whole construction team is aware of managers’ concerns, all parties involved feel more comfortable addressing issues before they come up.

Building and maintaining these relationships takes time and effort, but they pay dividends in the end. We can check in with each stakeholder and ensure that we’ve met or exceeded their expectations. Did we reduce a laboratory’s greenhouse gas emissions? Lower its energy use intensity? Cut energy utility costs? Safely right-size ventilation needs? Increase occupants’ comfort? Enable minimum to no disruption for laboratory experiments and activities? If we can say yes to all of these questions, we’ve met our high standards for performing decarbonization in occupied spaces.

And we promise you won’t have to shower at the gym.

If you’re a building owner with lab managers concerned about decarbonization in occupied spaces, we are ready to listen and collaborate to meet your needs. Contact us today to start a conversation.