Search Close Search
Search Close Search
Page Menu

Cold cash

A Mass Save incentive program that offers discounts for purchasing energy efficient laboratory grade freezers and refrigerators is gaining popularity across campus.

In 2024, UMass Chan labs used the incentive program 25 times to replace old -80° freezers and high-performance refrigerators with new more efficient units, saving a total of $35,800 on the purchase prices.

“We had an older freezer crash this fall,” said Luca Leone, manager of research operations in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biotechnology “It was unrepairable, so it was great to be able to take advantage of the incentive.”

The incentives vary depending on the freezer model. Leone’s most recent purchase of a -80° Thermo Fisher freezer qualified for $2,000 off the full price of $18,000. That’s an 11 percent savings. The energy savings are even greater, with the new freezer using an estimated 80 percent less electricity than the older unit. (Technical improvements, including natural refrigerants, advanced compressors and better insulation make the newer freezers so much more efficient.)

“We have used the program before, and the money is helpful for our budget,” Leone said. “And of course having more energy efficient equipment is good for us and the campus, so we are always looking for good incentives.”

According to its website, Mass Save is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers that offers a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings, and information to help residents, businesses and institutions reduce energy consumption.

More information about the freezer incentive program is available at:
https://www.masssave.com/en/business/rebates-and-incentives/specialty-equipment/cold-storage-and-lab-grade-equipment