Driving Sustainability in UK Labs

In today’s scientific landscape, meeting sustainability goals and enhancing energy efficiency are paramount for any modern laboratory. Fume cupboards are an indispensable piece of lab equipment, crucial for safety and containment. However, they also represent a significant energy consideration. At Holliday Fielding Hocking, we understand this balance. When striving for a truly greener lab, it’s essential to critically evaluate whether ducted or ductless fume cupboard models, or a strategic combination, best align with your environmental and operational objectives.

Powering A Greener Lab – Reducing Your Lab’s HVAC Burden

Traditional ducted fume cupboards rely on external ducting to extract hazardous vapours from the laboratory. While highly effective at containment, these systems are inherently energy-intensive. Every cubic metre of air removed from the lab must be replaced and reconditioned by the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This continuous air exchange places a constant and substantial energy load on your HVAC infrastructure.

In contrast, ductless fume cupboards are typically more energy-efficient. They operate on a sophisticated recirculating, closed-loop system. This design eliminates the need for constant exhausting and reconditioning of large volumes of heated or cooled air, dramatically reducing the burden on your HVAC units. This translates directly into significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint, all without compromising critical lab safety.

Air Quality, Filtration, and Consumables

Both ducted and ductless systems offer distinct advantages regarding air quality and consumable management:

• Ducted Fume Cupboards: These systems provide the benefit of direct exhaust to the outside environment. They can be used with or without filters, depending on the specific design and application needs. For applications involving highly hazardous chemicals or generating large volumes of volatile vapours, ducted fume cupboards often remain the preferred choice to ensure optimal air quality by minimising the risk of filter saturation or breakthrough. While they impact HVAC, ducted systems can lead to lower consumable costs over time due to less frequent filter replacements.
• Ductless Fume Cupboards: Since these models recirculate air, they depend on advanced activated carbon filters (and often HEPA/ULPA filters for particulates) to capture harmful vapours. This reliance necessitates regular filter changes, which are an ongoing consumable expense. However, the energy savings from reduced HVAC load often outweigh these costs over the long term.

A Strategic Path to a Powering a Greener Lab Environment

Achieving a truly greener lab environment with fume cupboards requires a strategic approach that meticulously balances stringent lab safety protocols with your energy efficiency goals. Energy efficiency doesn’t have to come at the expense of safety.

Holliday Fielding Hocking offers a comprehensive range of fume cupboards designed to meet diverse laboratory needs while supporting your sustainability initiatives:

• For high-volume applications or those requiring direct external venting of highly hazardous substances, our ducted fume cupboards provide robust containment. Our advanced ducted models feature adjustable air intake face velocity controls, allowing you to achieve the desired balance between conserving conditioned room air and ensuring the necessary volume of contaminated air is safely exhausted. This intelligent design helps optimise energy use without compromising safety.
• Conversely, our innovative ductless fume cupboards deliver substantial long-term savings through significantly reduced energy bills. By recirculating filtered air, they offer a highly efficient solution for a wide range of lab applications, contributing directly to your environmental objectives.

Ready to Go Greener in Your Lab?

At Holliday Fielding Hocking, we are committed to helping you find fume cupboard equipment that supports your green initiatives. We understand that each lab has unique requirements, and our expertise ensures you select the best fit for your application, safety standards, and sustainability targets.

Contact Holliday Fielding Hocking today for expert advice on selecting the ideal fume cupboard solution for your specific requirements. Explore our range of ducted and ductless fume cupboards designed for a greener, safer future.

HFH are a UK based specialist fume cupboard company in West Yorkshire but provide services throughout the whole of the UK. Visit our website to learn more about us and to listen to feedback from clients like you. We also offer a full range of services including fume cupboard repair and annual servicing reach out to Holliday Technical Services here.