BU Environmental Health and Safety, in collaboration with Risk Management, Sustainability and Procure to Pay, are evaluating interest in replacing ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers over 10 years old with new energy-efficient models. Your feedback will help us determine the feasibility of reintroducing this program in 2024.

Why should I consider replacing my ULT freezer?

Your freezer is routinely serviced to ensure it remains fit for duty. There are additional repair costs to consider. EHS sponsors a preventative maintenance program for ULT freezers to support labs in maximizing the lifespan of your freezers. This program may alert you to a deficiency, but repairs for aging freezers can be costly. Older units routinely experience unexpected upper- and lower-compressor failures, whose repair costs can range from $6,800 to $7,300 (half the cost of new/modern freezers). Because repair costs can rival the cost of a new freezer, freezers older than 10 years should be scrutinized for their long-term reliability. More information can be found on the EHC Centralized Equipment page.

What is the risk of older freezers?

As freezers approach the end of their useful life, the risk of mechanical failure increases, exposing research materials to damage and/or loss. Even with the safeguards, the average ULT freezer (-80C) can warm to -60C in only five hours, without power. At -60C samples start to degrade. Researchers and lab technicians have only hours to transfer materials to a working freezer. Ensuring your equipment is modern, operating in an optimal environment, and routinely serviced is critical to avoiding loss of research materials.

What else should I consider?

Additionally, and in support of the University’s Climate Action Plan, replacing old freezers directly reduces electricity consumption and makes it easier for the University to meet its goal of net carbon neutrality by 2040. In fact, a new freezer uses an average of 57% less electricity. When one considers the number of aging freezers in operation, the cost to operate is significant and as previously stated, not without risk.

With enough interest, the University will offer a freezer replacement incentive program to help reduce the cost of acquiring a new energy-efficient unit. You could receive up to $3,500+ off the purchase of each unit, on top of exclusive negotiated pricing with our preferred vendors, plus a rebate from our utility partner, Eversource.

Current (unsubsidized) rates on eligible freezers are below. With enough interest, we can leverage the power of the group to offset the costs to each lab.

Note: The below pricing does not include the University’s price incentives of up to $3,500+ per unit.

Thermo Fisher TSX Freezers
  • TSX400 (19.4 cu. ft): $8,660
  • TSX500 (24.1 cu. ft.): $9,465
  • TSX600 (28.8 cu. ft.): $10,275
  • TSX700 (33.5 cu. ft): $11,695
PHC VIP ECO Freezers
  • MDF-DU502VH-PA (18.6 cu. ft): $10,095
  • MDF-DU702VH-PA (25.7 cu. ft): $12,450
  • MDF-DU901VHA-PA (29.8 cu. ft): $14,300
Sterling Freezer
  • SU780XLE (27.5 cu. ft): $13,800

If you are considering purchasing a new energy efficient -80/-86 ultra-low freezer, please complete the below information and send it to EHS Informatics and Communication Director Sony Heir at cheir@bu.edu.

  • Contact Name:
  • Department Name:
  • Lab Location:
  • PI Name:
  • Freezer Make & Model Number:

Please respond by submitting your request to participate on or before Thursday, November 7, 2024.

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