How to Reduce Power Consumption and Minimize Technical Gas Usage

We’ve gotten used to checking the energy label when buying a new fridge or washing machine for our home. Yet, we rarely think about doing the same when choosing scientific instruments for the lab. Maybe it’s time we should!

Energy efficiency in the lab is not only about environmental responsibility—it can also reduce operating costs and promote the careful use of technical resources, such as carrier gases. Helium or nitrogen, for example, are frequently used as carrier gases, and past helium shortages have occasionally slowed down research and routine analytical work. Preventing these issues starts with considering the instrument that implies the minor use of these gases.

A Headspace autosampler based on a heated gas-tight syringe, such as the 2000H autosampler, for instance, is from this point of view more efficient than traditional transfer line-based autosamplers. These syringe-based systems do not require any gas during the sampling phase, using carrier gas exclusively during syringe flushing. This approach significantly reduces technical gas consumption.

Moreover, HTA Headspace autosamplers have been shown to be more energy-efficient compared to major competitors, resulting in lower electricity bills. Even the modern cooled racks recently released for HTA Headspace autosamplers, based on innovative technologies, save electricity compared to traditional Peltier-based cooling systems.

In short, it’s time to apply the same attention we give to home appliances to our scientific workspace. Checking energy labels, choosing more efficient instruments, and minimizing technical gas usage is not just good practice—it’s an investment in sustainability and cost efficiency.