The Penn Labs Freezer Challenge is designed to promote best practices in cold storage management. The Freezer Challenge covers all forms of cold storage, including refrigerators, freezers, and cold rooms. Labs participating in the challenge will be asked to submit an online scorecard, encouraging them to take actions toward freezer efficiency including regular defrosting, cleaning out old samples, temperature tuning, and sharing cold storage spaces. Sign-ups are accepted on a rolling basis. The challenge will start on January 15, 2022, and the deadline to complete the challenge is April 15, 2022. This challenge is also run on the international scale. For more information, visit freezerchallenge.org.

First, second, and third place winners will be awarded prizes at the celebratory end-of-challenge party where drinks and snacks will be served. Last year Cremins Lab of the Perelman School of Medicine took first place. Please email Laura Barron, sustainability analyst, at lbarron@upenn.edu to sign up, or if you have additional questions or comments. To learn more, visit: https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/events/penn-labs-freezer-challenge.