Welcome to the Shut the Sash Competition! This initiative is designed to help our labs become more sustainable by encouraging one simple habit: shutting the sash. By keeping fume hood sashes low when not in use, we save an incredible amount of energy and keep our workspace safer. Here is a breakdown of how the competition works and how your lab can take home the prize.
How the Raffle Works
The competition is structured as a raffle. Every good "sash habit" earns your lab a raffle ticket. At the end of the competition, we will draw a ticket at random to determine the winner.
The Golden Rule: The more tickets your lab earns, the higher your chance of winning!
How to Earn Tickets
Our system "checks in" on your fume hoods 3 times every day at random intervals. Each check is an opportunity to boost your lab's chances at winning—but poor habits can also set you back! To keep things fair, we ensure every lab is checked the same number of times during the day and night.
Daily Checks
Daytime (5 AM – 11 PM): If our sensors show all of your hoods are not in use and the sash is closed (below 10% height), you EARN 1 ticket. If the proximity sensor detects you are currently working at the hood(s), that check doesn't count against you. We’ll just try again later!
Nighttime Bonus (11 PM – 5 AM): We especially want to prevent sashes from being left open overnight. If the hood is empty and the sash is closed, you EARN 2 tickets.
Penalty: Sashes left above the operating height (usually marked by a physical stopper) disrupt the hood's airflow and can be unsafe. The sash should only be raised this high during equipment setup or breakdown. If our sensors detect that the sash is above the operating height without a user present, your lab will LOSE 1 ticket for each hood.
Consistency counts! If your lab has a mix of open and closed sashes, the check is considered a 'draw' and no tickets are earned.
Summary Table:
Situation |
Action |
Result |
Daytime Check |
Sash closed & hood empty |
+1 Ticket |
Nighttime Check |
Sash closed & hood empty |
+2 Tickets |
Unsafe Open |
Above operating height & hood empty |
-1 Ticket/hood |
Mixed |
Mixed Sash Heights |
0 Tickets |
Weekly Updates & Bonus Points
At the end of each week, keep an eye on your inbox for our competition newsletter! This is your primary way to see how your lab is performing and how we are doing as a community. Each update includes:
Lab Standings: See the "Leaderboard" to find out how many tickets your lab has racked up. Remember: more tickets mean more entries in the final prize drawing!
Our Collective Impact: We’ll share the big picture. You’ll see exactly how much energy we’ve saved together and the positive impact we’ve made on the environment.
Bonus Opportunities: Want to pull ahead? We will occasionally offer extra tickets for participating in quick surveys or testing your knowledge with lab sustainability trivia.
Prizes
Grand Prize: The winning lab will be drawn and given a free lunch/pizza party.
Recognition: All labs with exceptional behavior will be publically recognized through various channels, such as news articles and social media shoutouts.
Spirit Awards: We are also looking to recognize "Sustainability VIPs." These are individual prizes for engagement and "spirit," which may be based on interactions with competition representatives and peer nominations.
Why are we doing this?
A single open fume hood can use as much energy as four homes. They are often the largest source of energy waste in labs—and, if used improperly, a primary risk for chemical inhalation. By actively participating in this competition, you are prromoting your safety and reducing your carbon footprint!
Keep it low, keep it safe, and good luck!