Chemistry laboratories are high-energy affairs. In addition to the equipment they contain, they need plenty of outside air to remove chemical fumes, which adds significantly to the heating, cooling, and humidification loads.
Iowa State University’s (ISU) new Hach Hall is an exception. Opened in the fall of 2010, the $52 million research facility incorporates numerous features to reduce its environmental footprint including rainwater capture, separation of laboratory spaces from classrooms, and the use of a fogging system for humidification, rather than a traditional boiler.