An Energy Efficient Vivarium

Jeff Freeman

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Australian BioResources

Mouse breeding facility

Moss Vale NSW

Australia

The challenge

Animal facilities are expensive to build and operate:

– Full fresh air, humidity and temp controlled

– 15-20 ACPH

– Pressure controlled

– Highly filtered

– Actively ventilated cage systems

– Sophisticated controls & balancing

– High steam and hot water use (washup)

Presentation objective

To describe a facility which has

implemented strategies that minimize

energy use while maintaining high

operational standards

Presentation overview

• Facility Description

• Energy conservation initiatives

• Focus area:

Ventilation of the mouse

accommodation pavilion

• Conclusions

Facility description

Facility description

Function

– An SPF facility for the breeding of GM mice

– Run as an agistment facility forresearchers across eastern Australia

– An import / export station

Facility description

Design requirements

– Biologically secure animal environment

– Conducive to animal breeding

– Safe for staff

– Low capital and operating costs

– ESD accountable

– Expandable

Facility description

Project parameters

– $A20million total project cost

– Green-fields site 130km from Sydney

– Stage 1: 18,000 box capacity

– Stage 2: 15,000 box capacity

– Stage 1, 12 months detailed design, 12 months construct

– Mouse accommodation: 2yr prototype

Facility description

• 4000m2 on 45 acre green-field site

• 4 buildings, each linked but fire separated

– Breeding pavilion (1500m2) containing 11 soft-walled clean rooms

– Support pavilion (1400m2 )

(wash / import / export / labs)

– Plant and stores (610m2 )

– Administration and staff amenity (450m2)

Facility description

Energy initiatives

• Target 1: Box cleaning

High temperature disinfection rather than steam sterilization wherever possible

• The heat to raise the temperature of water 1oC

at boiling point (phase transition) is 500X greater than that required at lower temperatures

• We use neutral detergents and a final rinse at 90

oC

Energy Initiatives

Energy initiatives

• Target 2: Lighting– T5 fluorescent tubes in most areas

– LED lighting in mouse rooms (low power, low maintenance)

• Target 3: Chilled water (aircon)– Oil free, frictionless bearing compressors

Energy initiatives

• Target 4: Highly developed system monitoring and controls

• Target 5: Naturally ventilated office and staff amenity area:

– Hydronically heated concrete slab

– Fresh air heat exchangers

focus area:Mouse Accommodation

• Construction

– High degree of insulation

– Open plan with soft-walled rooms which can be added as required

Mouse accommodation

Mouse breeding room

Clean room laboratory

Airflow schematic

Mouse accommodationAir volumes

Energy use and cost(1100m2 NUA, 17000 box capacity)

Capital cost

Capital:

– Overall facility $5000/m2 (equipped)

– Clean room pavilion: $3500/m2 (equipped):

Summary

The mouse accommodation module appears to provide an operationally effective environment at

• low capital cost

• low operating cost

Particle counts

Summary

• Multiple energy saving initiatives have been incorporated into the facility

• The ongoing challenge is to monitor and benchmark the effect of these

Our partners

• BioBubble soft wall clean rooms

• Airlaw EVC’s

• Kuttner Collins (mechanical engineers)

• ICE Controls

Questions?