What’s cooler than being cool? Student Trey Cooper’s recent audit of the refrigerators inside the NAU Science Lab Facility!
While working on campus as an AmeriCorps Green Labs Coordinator, Cooper audited laboratory equipment throughout the building and helped determine which lab upgrades would help lower operating costs and make progress in the university’s sustainability goals. Then, the senior got support from the NAU Green Fund to replace the oldest, least efficient refrigerators in the building, working side by side with researchers to select new fridges that balanced utility and energy efficiency.
Cooper answered three chill Qs about this collaborative project.
How did you audit the refrigerators in the facility, and what did you discover?
I recorded the age of each refrigerator in every lab by looking at the date of manufacture on the label. I discovered that there are many old and inefficient appliances, with the oldest dating back to 1993.
How will the new refrigerators improve energy efficiency in the labs and bolster NAU’s sustainability goals?
The benefits of the new refrigerators are twofold. The new appliances are Energy-Star rated, meaning they consume less electricity, thus leading to fewer emissions. Additionally, these new models are frost-free, which will prevent the buildup of frost that reduces freezer efficiency over time.
What’s next for you?
I will graduate with my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering this spring. After graduation, I plan to continue work related to sustainability and apply to companies that build electric vehicles.
Jill Kimball | NAU Communications
(928) 523-2282 | jill.kimball@nau.edu