An ongoing initiative at the University is the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), which helps labs reduce their environmental impact while improving research quality. LEAF awards Bronze, Silver, or Gold accreditation are based on progress across categories such as Equipment and Ventilation, which focus on actions like optimising energy use and improving airflow efficiency.  

The Plug Energy Meter Campaign 

To tackle energy use head-on, the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH) has launched a new initiative: Plug Energy Meters available for loan. These devices allow lab users to monitor the energy consumption of individual equipment and identify opportunities to reduce waste.  

By providing visibility into energy hotspots, researchers can make informed decisions to reduce energy consumption, whether that’s switching off idle devices, upgrading outdated equipment, or selecting more energy-efficient alternatives for experimental protocols 

The process is straightforward: Lab users can borrow PAC-tested plug meters to measure their lab’s energy use for a period of time from the below buildings and then simply return them once they are done. All you need to do is complete a log book so we know who has them.  

Energy meters are currently available for loan in:  

• Michael Smith Building reception
• Stopford Building reception 
• A.V. Hill Building reception 
• Core Technology Facility (CTF) – please contact Lorraine Schmidt at lorraine.schmidt@manchester.ac.uk  

Expected outcomes and benefits 

By raising awareness and enabling data-driven decisions, the campaign aims to: 

• Reduce unnecessary energy consumption across FBMH labs.
• Track energy and cost savings during switch-off campaigns, such as the Winter Switch-Off over Christmas and New Year closures. 
• Lower carbon emissions and operational costs. 
• Support the University’s sustainability targets (zero carbon by 2038) and contribute to LEAF accreditation progress. 

A strong example of how plug‑in energy meters can be used in practice comes from undergraduate student Gwyneth Darwent’s final‑year project (2022/23). In her study, she and fellow researchers compared the energy consumption of thermomixers with that of traditional incubators. Read the full publication here. 

Additional information 

• Read more about LEAF and Environmental Sustainability at the University. 
• For more information, email the FBMH Environmental Sustainability team at srbmh@manchester.ac.uk. 

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