The International Freezer Challenge starts on January 1, 2024, and runs until Canada Day on July 1, 2024. Labs can join any time before June 30, 2024, and include any cold storage management actions conducted between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

McGill lab users can follow the simple steps on the International Freezer Challenge website or kimberly.john [at] mcgill.ca (ask the McGill Office of Sustainability) to sign up their lab.

Before signing up, McGill lab users should discuss participation with their lab colleagues, watch the challenge’s promotional video, review the actions outlined by the challenge, and decide whether participation makes sense for their lab.

The International Freezer Challenge covers all forms of laboratory cold storage, including refrigerators, freezers, and cold rooms.

Any lab at McGill or an affiliated institute can sign up for the International Freezer Challenge if it uses cold storage for scientific samples. The competition defines a lab as “a group of scientists that work and collaborate in a similar physical space while accessing the same fleet of cold storage equipment”. This means an entire department would also be eligible to sign up as a single “lab”. Below are some of the fields that need to be filled out in the online form, along with examples of acceptable answers:

PI name or lab name: Principal investigator’s name, individual lab name, or department/institute name (if signing up as an entire department/institute)

Your Organization (Institution or Company Name): McGill University

Your Department: Academic department name or research institute name

There is no minimum number of actions a lab must take to be eligible for the International Freezer Challenge. Lab users should only do the actions that make sense for their lab or that PIs and other colleagues agree should be pursued. If an action is not applicable to a lab's context, it can be recorded as "not applicable" on the challenge scoresheet. The challenge is scored based on a combination of factors, including points earned per action, kWh saved, points earned per cold storage unit, and kWh saved per cold storage unit.

To participate in the International Freezer Challenge, lab users implement recommended changes and/or document their ongoing best practices related to cold storage management. These actions benefit both the planet and the scientists themselves by reducing the cost, risk, and energy consumption associated with inefficient cold storage practices. These practices include:

• Conducting preventative maintenance on cold storage equipment.

• Adjusting appliance temperatures to cool samples and reagents no more than needed.

• Retiring old equipment and, when necessary, upgrading to energy efficient appliances.

• Updating or creating an inventory for samples.

For practical guidance on how to implement best practices for lab fridges and freezers, consult the resource page on the International Freezer Challenge website.

Once a lab has signed up, participants should review the International Freezer Challenge actions with their lab colleagues to decide which of them apply to the lab, as well as when and how they will take these actions. A sample scoresheet is available on the International Freezer Challenge website.

A sample scoresheet is available on the International Freezer Challenge website. The actions should be documented on the online scoresheet. After signing up, lab users can download a spreadsheet from the International Freezer Challenge website and use it to record actions taken. However, labs will need to enter and submit their actions using the online scoresheet by June 30, 2023, to qualify for the competition.

Lab users should regularly brush off the frost buildup inside their freezers. When ice cannot be easily removed from the interior walls or door of a freezer, it might be time for a full defrost.

Before removing frost buildup from a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer’s manual for detailed instructions. However, frost buildup can generally be removed from the gasket and sealing surfaces using a soft brush or cloth.

Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.

For more detailed instructions of how to remove frost buildup from a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

• Store Smart ULT freezer maintenance guide

• ThermoFisher Scientific ULT freezer maintenance guide

• Eppendorf ULT freezer maintenance guide

Before defrosting a freezer, lab users should consult the freezer’s manual for detailed instructions. However, the process will generally follow these steps:

1. Move all the samples to a different freezer unit. Find out if a neighbouring lab can share space in their freezer, or ask the building manager if a temporary freezer is available. Lab users working in the Life Sciences Complex or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a portable freezer request form.

2. Place absorbent pads around the base of the unit. This will prevent flooding and slipping hazards. Additionally, remove any loose chunks of ice and place them in a bucket.

3. Turn off the freezer, unplug it, and leave the doors ajar. Let the unit thaw completely. This might take several days, so it is recommended to begin the process just before a weekend.

4. Clean and dry the interior of the freezer. Wipe the interior of the freezer, as well as the seals and the outer door with a soft lint-free cloth dampened with water and a mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Stainless steel parts can be disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol applied with a soft lint-free cloth.

5. Turn the freezer back on. Allow the unit about 12 hours to return to its operating temperature before transferring samples back to the freezer.

Note: Regularly removing frost buildup from a freezer will reduce how frequently a freezer needs to be fully defrosted.

For more detailed instructions of how to fully defrost a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

• Store Smart ULT freezer maintenance guide

• ThermoFisher Scientific ULT freezer maintenance guide

• Eppendorf ULT freezer maintenance guide

Some buildings at McGill have freezers that lab users can use to temporarily store samples and materials while they defrost their freezer.

Lab users working in the Life Sciences Complex (which includes the Bellini, Cancer Research, McIntyre, and Stewart buildings) or as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can fill out a portable freezer request form.

Lab users associated with another faculty or research institute should contact their building manager to ask if a temporary freezer is available.

For more information about acquiring a temporary freezer at McGill, please email labs.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.

Yes, preventative maintenance conducted by a service provider counts toward the actions taken by a lab, so long as it took place between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

Before cleaning the coils of a freezer or refrigerator, lab users should consult the appliance’s manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the coils can generally be cleaned by gently vacuuming or brushing them in the direction of the lines on the coil. Alternatively, a wet paper towel can be used to gently wipe the coils in the direction of the lines. Be careful not to bend the metal lines.

For more detailed instructions of how to clean the coils of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

• Store Smart ULT freezer maintenance guide

• ThermoFisher Scientific ULT freezer maintenance guide

• Eppendorf ULT freezer maintenance guide

A buildup of dust or grime on a freezer or refrigerator’s filter prevents normal airflow through the condenser, which hinders the appliance’s ability to effectively dissipate heat.

Before cleaning the filter, lab users should consult the appliance’s manual for detailed instructions. However, once the appliance is unplugged, the filter can generally be cleaned by removing it and rinsing it with water. It is not necessary to dry the filter before placing it back in the freezer.

For more detailed instructions of how to clean the filter of a ULT freezer, consult these resources:

• Store Smart ULT freezer maintenance guide

• ThermoFisher Scientific ULT freezer maintenance guide

• Eppendorf ULT freezer maintenance guide

Lab users who are considering raising the temperature of a freezer from -80 C to -70 C are encouraged to review the publications listed below and discuss the idea with their principal investigator and lab colleagues.

• Bousema, et al, -70 is the new -80 (2020).

• Espinel-Ingroff et al, Long-Term Preservation of Fungal Isolates in Commercially Prepared Cryogenic Microbank Vials (asm.org) (2004).

• Thermofisher Scientific, SmartNote: Reducing Energy Usage.

Consult the International Freezer Challenge website for more information about adjusting sample storage temperature.

The following tips can help ensure samples stored in a lab freezer or refrigerator are easy to find, thereby reducing the amount of time spent searching for samples while the door is open:

• Label all samples and spot check inventories on a regular basis.

• Create a detailed inventory and a map with the location of samples in a freezer or refrigerator.

• Use radio frequency identification (RFID) or a barcode system, which is more affordable.

• Organize samples in secondary containers (e.g., plastic storage boxes).

• Properly dispose of samples that are unidentified or no longer needed.

Consult the McGill Hazardous Waste Management website for guidance on the proper disposal of unwanted samples.