About Labs2Zero and the Pilot Energy Score

Labs2Zero is a voluntary program sponsored by the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) that is dedicated to advancing the decarbonization of laboratories globally. The program, currently under development, will feature a variety of tools, including: a Scorecard with scores covering energy, operational emissions, and embodied emissions; customized reports on potential measures to improve labs’ energy and emissions scores; certification of scorecard results; and training and accreditation to support certification. At the heart of Labs2Zero is the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool (LBT), through which I2SL launched the first major Labs2Zero offering, the Energy Score, in October 2023.

To get started using the LBT and obtaining Energy Scores, please read our Quick Start Guide. You can also watch a recording of the I2SL Energy Score webinar or view the presentation slides here.

The Energy Score is currently in a pilot phase, in which we encourage all feedback from users to help us improve the scoring system's accuracy before Version 1 of the Labs2Zero Energy Score launches in late 2024.

How the Pilot Energy Score Works

Each lab building's energy performance is rated from 1-100, where 100 represents the highest performance. The rating is a percentile score, meaning that a building with a Pilot Energy Score of 85 would have better energy performance than 85 percent of similar facilities. The score takes into account the functional requirements driving the energy consumption of each lab building to calculate an energy "allowance." The allowance factors are based on an analysis of the LBT's database, and include the amount of net lab space, lab type, hours of occupancy, and weather. The Pilot Energy Score is generated by comparing this allowance with the actual annual energy consumption of the building. The scoring system was developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2023, and more details are available in a technical white paper. Please also see the FAQ page for more information.

Pilot Energy Scores are made available free of charge to LBT users thanks to the generous support of I2SL's Labs2Zero Founding Sponsors. Pilot Energy Scores have been generated for all buildings in our database, including any associated with existing accounts. The score is calculated separately for each year of data you provide, and it is updated automatically any time users update their data.

Just getting started in the LBT? Don't forget to check out the Quick Start Guide to learn how to quickly obtain your Energy Scores.

How to Help I2SL Improve the Energy Score

During the pilot phase, I2SL welcomes all feedback on the Labs2Zero Pilot Energy Scores. We are particularly seeking feedback from users who have entered their buildings' data in the LBT and have obtained Pilot Energy Scores.

For some kinds of lab buildings, the score is not yet well tuned because the peer group database does not yet contain enough data on these building types, including vivarium facilities, manufacturing laboratories, pilot plants, crime labs, and healthcare laboratory facilities. Submitting data to the LBT on these types of facilities during the pilot phase will greatly help I2SL improve the accuracy of the Energy Score.

Please send all feedback on the Labs2Zero Pilot Energy Score or the LBT to lbt@i2sl.org.