Do you have an ultra-low temperature freezer (ULT) in your lab from 2018 or older?
Are you located in a Pitt-owned building?

If you are a double “Yes!,” you could reduce your lab’s energy usage up to 80% by upgrading your ULT freezer to a much more efficient ENERGY STAR ULT freezer — with a 30% rebate from the University of Pittsburgh!

The internal ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate will help cover the cost of upgrading your old, inefficient ULT freezer, while helping Pitt avoid energy use, save money and reduce campus carbon emissions. Apply today with information about your current ULT freezer model and proposed replacement model (which must be ENERGY STAR certified).

Apply Today!

All applicants must provide their invoice for their replacement ULT freezer to sustainability@pitt.edu once purchase is complete AND have your old ULT picked-up by Pitt-Surplus to have funds transferred to your account. The ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate funding is limited — and awarded first come, first served basis. Thanks to the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and PittCAP Capital Fund for supporting this first ever Pitt offering.

Labs that decommission 2 old ULT freezers and replace them with one energy-efficient model of a similar size may be eligible to receive up to a 60% rebate (based on energy savings)!

Q&A

Who is eligible for Pitt’s ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate?
What is the cost?
Is there a deadline?
Can I give my current ULT freezer to another laboratory?
Am I eligible if my lab is located in a non-Pitt-owned building / leased space?
Why should I replace a ULT freezer before it breaks?
What does Pitt Surplus do with my old ULT freezer?
Why is this rebate only for replacing ULT freezers manufactured before 2018?
What other ULT freezer practices can help my lab save even more energy?
Are there energy efficiency rebates for other laboratory equipment?
Where can I find additional resources about greening my lab?

Who is eligible for Pitt’s ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate?

All Pitt employees are eligible to apply for the ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate as long as they are replacing an existing ULT freezer that is located in a Pitt-owned building and was manufactured prior to 2018 with a new ENERGY STAR certified ULT freezer. Though The Assembly is not a Pitt-owned building, ULT Freezers in Pitt Labs located in The Assembly are eligible for these internal rebates because the University’s lease structure includes operational expenses.

What is the cost?

You will purchase your replacement ULT freezer the same way your laboratory always makes purchases (via Pitt’s Contracted Suppliers). Your new ULT Freezer can be any brand you prefer, as long as it is ENERGY STAR Certified.

When you submit your application, provide information about your old, inefficient freezer, your proposed new model, and your invoice amount. Once your rebate approved and you have scheduled pickup of your old freezer with Pitt Surplus, your laboratory will receive a rebate of 30% of the cost of your new ULT freezer.

If you decide to decommission 2 old ULT freezers and replace them with 1 newer energy-efficient model, you may be eligible for up to a 60% rebate (based on potential energy savings); the more efficient your proposed new freezer compared to your existing ULT freezers, the more of a financial return lab could be eligible for.

Is there a deadline?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; however, funds are limited, so please apply as soon as possible. Once our current funds run out, the remaining applicants will be put on a waiting list that we will notify if more funding is allocated.

Can I give my current ULT freezer to another laboratory?

The purpose of the Pitt ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate is to save the University money, avoid energy use, and reduce carbon emissions by removing old inefficient equipment from campus. As a result, old, inefficiency freezers MUST be given to Pitt Surplus, who will recycle it. Continuing to use your old ULT freezer or “gifting” it to another lab is not allowed, as that would negate all anticipated financial, energy, and carbon savings. Any laboratory not properly disposing of their old, inefficient ULT freezer via Pitt Surplus is NOT eligible for the rebate.

Why should I replace a ULT freezer before it breaks?

If your ULT Freezer was manufactured before 2018, this was before there were ENERGY STAR certification standards; by upgrading, you can reduce your energy usage by up to ~80%. This means your research will have more of a positive impact on the world by reducing the CO2e emissions created by your laboratory’s operations.

What does Pitt Surplus do with my old ULT freezer?

When you schedule your pick-up with Pitt Surplus, they will haul away your old ULT and assess it. They might resell or donate it if it’s still in good working condition. If the ULT is deemed too old, they will make sure it gets taken apart, and the components that can be recycled will be, and those that can’t will be disposed of responsibly.

Why is this rebate only for replacing old ULT freezers manufactured prior to 2018?

Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers use 7,300 kWh/year — as much energy as a single-family home. In 2017, ULT freezer efficiency standards improved dramatically; thus, a ULT freezer manufactured prior to 2018 uses 20 kWh/day, while today’s most efficient ULT freezer models use just 3.9 kWh/day.

What other ULT freezer operational practices can help my lab save more energy?

By defrosting your freezer annually, you can reduce malfunctions and save up to 10% more energy. Additionally, you lab can take green practices even further by “chilling-up” your ULT freezer from – 80°C to -70°C, which increases the life expectancy of your ULT freezer and can reduce energy usage up to an additional 37%.

Are there energy efficiency rebates for other laboratory equipment?

At this time, there are no other internal energy efficiency rebates for laboratory equipment. However, if you have ideas for rebates for additional energy-intensive equipment, please email us!.

Am I eligible if my lab is located in a non-Pitt-owned building / leased space?

Due to the funding sources for this project being focused on utility savings, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, the Pitt ULT Freezer Energy Efficiency Rebate is only available to laboratories located in University-owned buildings and The Assembly. Though The Assembly is not a Pitt-owned building, ULT Freezers in Pitt Labs located in The Assembly are eligible for these internal rebates because the University’s lease structure includes operational expenses.