Sustainability

The first step to build an ITQB NOVA blueprint for a more sustainable community is to reflect and plan actions to address how much (and what types of) plastic we use in the labs, and find solutions for it. From 2-30 November, participating labs will collect and separate all plastics used for research purposes. The material will then be analyzed, counted and weighted, in order to make an estimate of the total plastic consumption in our labs.

From 7-20 November, takes place a collection of general use plastics and packaging. More than that, the Committee wants to estimate how much plastic and other packaging we generate in the building, so we ask you to put all plastics and packaging in the recycling bins provided on level 1 (outside by the security guard) and level 2 (both in the vending machines and microwaves areas). After this period, the estimates will help to define how many recycling bins will be necessary and what measures we need to take to reduce our waste.

 

The Committee proposes an extra effort to turn off switches and electrical equipment when not in use. When you leave, even for a short time, make sure the lights in rooms are switched off. At the end of the day, whenever possible, switch off computers and other equipment, as well as air conditioning.  The annual electricity consumption of this building is 4,750,000 kWh, which is equivalent to the consumption of 1,989 medium-sized households. The estimated annual cost in 2022 is 735,000€ (this figure is expected to more than triple in 2023). Some lights cannot be switched off for safety reasons, but if you come across any lights that are on unnecessarily, please turn them off or, if this is not possible, please send an email to mnt@itqb.unl.pt.

 

Annual consumption at ITQB NOVA is around 19,000 m3 or 19,000,000 litres. In particular, we want to remind that laboratories have two types of piped water: normal water and deionised water, which is produced at ITQB NOVA. Water treatment for laboratory use has energy costs and, paradoxically, water costs. For example, to make 1 litre of deionised water, up to 4 litres of piped water are needed. ITQB NOVA also has other types of water for specific purposes and with increasing purity: distilled water, bidistilled water and ultrapure water (millipore), with the respective waste of rejected water. Before choosing which type of water to use, please take into account the purpose for which it is intended. To help reduce the consumption of piped water in the laboratories, the water flow in the taps will be reduced manually.

 

At ITQB NOVA about 600 reams of printer paper are consumed every year. This number has been decreasing over time, but we believe we can go further, equating each print or copy on paper.
Files can be shared via email or other electronic platforms instead of being printed. In a meeting, it is always possible to project a document, rather than distribute a printed version. A document can be shared and edited online, rather than printed in its multiple versions.
Of course, sometimes printing a document is a must, but there are actions we can take to still reduce paper consumption:
• Print on both sides of the paper sheet;
• Reuse printed paper to print on, to draft great ideas or artwork (if you use draft sheets for new printouts, remember to remove them from the common use printer so as not to affect subsequent printouts).
In any case, all paper that cannot be reused should be placed in the recycling bins next to the photocopiers.

 

The majority of ITQB NOVA laboratories have piped gas (yellow taps). The rational use of this resource contributes to reduce waste. In particular, please avoid leaving Bunsen burners lit when not strictly necessary.

Many gas leaks can also be prevented if gas is only available in those labs that use it. If your lab does not need piped natural gas, please contact our Maintenance team to have it turned off (you can always ask later to have it turned back on).

 

The first SCAN of the cycle promoted by the Sustainability Committee will receive Nelson Lage, the Director of ADENE - the Energy Agency, who will talk about measures that can be implemented in institutions such as ours and actions that each of us can take, as well as funding opportunities in the area of energy.

At this important time that the planet is going through, it is important that we know more about the energy challenges we face and what we can do - individually and collectively as a society - to address them. We hope that this session will help us to reflect better on the issues of energy production and consumption and to make informed decisions about the different alternatives. We also hope that this reflection will contribute to stimulate the debate on this topic at ITQB NOVA.

 

 

In this festive season and appealing to everyone's creativity, we want to challenge you to decorate your labs and offices by recycling what is no longer in use. Post photos of your decorations on Instagram or Twitter.

And why stop at the laboratories and offices and not extend your creativity to the whole ITQB NOVA? Bring your most beautiful Christmas decoration and hang it on the Christmas tree that we have at the entrance.

 

In this season of delicious food, it is easy to get carried away with the amount of food we cook or buy. We propose to be more conscious in the preparation of our Christmas and that we use food leftovers in a smart and creative way. Remember that almost everything can be frozen for later use. We can share the leftovers with friends and family. Packaged products can also be donated to some institutions or to people in need.

Our challenge does not end at Christmas, but continues throughout the year. Whether in the ITQB NOVA cafeteria or in restaurants, we can always order only the quantity we are going to eat or take the leftovers home, avoiding that the food ends up in the trash.

 

We wish you all a very happy New Year, full of health, joy and… more sustainable practices!

 

Now that the days are colder, the temptation to turn up the air conditioning or switch on the heaters is great. However, this can be avoided by choosing to wear warmer clothes or several layers of clothing.

The National Plan for Energy Efficiency and the measures approved by NOVA determine that the air conditioning in buildings must be regulated for a maximum temperature of 19ºC in the winter months, so it will not be possible to heat the building in the same way as in previous years.

We would also like to remind you that electric heaters should not be used in the building, as these appliances consume a lot of electricity, which would jeopardise all our efforts to reduce consumption. If your room or office is too cold, please contact Maintenance.

If not recycled, these materials end up in landfills when they could be reused. This type of recycling is one of the goals of the circular economy, reducing dependence on natural resources and mining, with all its negative impacts on the environment. Electronic waste is, globally, a major problem, with a recycling rate of only 40% in Europe (and only 22% worldwide).

At ITQB NOVA, we also have a programme for recycling these materials and we know that our waste will be treated and reused, reducing the impact of our activity. To this end, there is a container for the collection of electrical appliances, electronic devices and metal objects on Floor 1 (next to the bicycles). You can bring equipment and objects of this nature that you have at home or in the laboratories. If it is a large appliance, please notify Maintenance first.