The University of Cambridge’s Hutchison/MRC Research Centre was met with the risk of reduced life-saving cancer research due to the escalating cost of the utility bills. After significant research, the university engaged Critical Airflow to design and implement the most effective solution to reducing energy costs. A unique Aircuity solution was recommended that allows ventilation to vary based on laboratory conditions.
Having implemented the technology, Hutchison/MRC reduced total natural gas costs by approximately 41% in the first year, and by 54% in year two. Overall, total electricity bills were reduced by 9 percen and the new system, which had a payback of less than 2 years, has made a significant difference in reducing utility costs and carbon emissions.
The MRC Cancer Unit is both a core-funded Unit of the UK Medical Research Council, as well as an academic department of the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Their mission is to study the earliest steps in the emergence of cancer, then translate this knowledge to clinical application for the benefit of patients. The aim and objective is to improve the early detection of cancer, helping identify individuals who are most at risk of developing cancer, thus creating more effective treatments.
Ten faculty-led research programmes in the Unit include over 130 staff and students and span a range of disciplines including biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, computational biology, clinical medicine and surgery.
Read the clients story - https://www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk/resource-bank/case-studies/energy-and-carbon-reduction/star-department-case-study-hutchisonmrc