If you work in a lab, one small habit can save a surprising amount of energy: Shut the sash.
Architect Jacob Werner explains why airflow, safety, and infrastructure choices are some of the biggest (hidden) climate levers.
This episode is part of Any Job Can Be a Climate Job — a podcast exploring how people bring climate impact into everyday work, even in roles that aren’t labeled “climate.”
👉 Subscribe and leave a comment — I’d love to hear what resonates.
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Research labs are where some of the most important work in the world happens: curing disease, developing renewable energy, and building the future of science.
They’re also some of the most energy- and resource-intensive buildings we have. Not because people are careless, but because labs are designed to optimize for safety, airflow, and precision.
In this episode, I talk with Jacob Werner, an architect at Ellenzweig who designs science labs for colleges and universities, about why labs function more like machines than offices — and why that makes design such a powerful climate lever.
Jacob explains how decisions about airflow, temperature control, filtration, and safety systems quietly shape energy use for decades — and how good design can make the sustainable choice the easiest choice, without relying on constant heroics from the people inside the building.
Listen for:
About Jacob
Jacob Werner is an architect with Ellenzweig in Boston. Ellenzweig designs science labs primarily for colleges and universities. Jacob also co-chairs the AIA 2030 Commitment, a program supporting architects in tracking and reporting progress toward lower-carbon buildings.
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00:00 — Cold open: reduce → electrify → renewables
00:00:32 — Intro: why lab design matters
00:01:53 — Who Jacob is + what he designs (Ellenzweig, AIA 2030)
00:02:35 — What is AIA / AIA 2030?
00:03:00 — How Jacob got into architecture and lab design
00:06:25 — How you start designing a lab (vision + flexibility)
00:07:54 — Why labs are so energy- and resource-intensive
00:10:29 — What designers can build in vs what occupants control
00:11:19 — Six Sigma + workflow convenience (waste + behavior design)
00:11:37 — Persuading clients: make sustainability “part of the package”
00:13:33 — Biggest lesson: climate action isn’t all-or-nothing
00:15:00 — Project story: designing for ocean/climate research (URI)
00:17:29 — Renovation + reuse + embodied carbon
00:19:09 — Low-hanging fruit for lab occupants (Shut the Sash, lights, equipment)
00:20:54 — Where to learn more (AIA + I2SL resources)
00:21:28 — What green labs may look like in 10–20 years
00:25:20 — Closing thoughts: everyone can contribute
00:26:23 — Reflection: the biggest wins come from changing systems
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only. Views are the guest’s own, and nothing here should be taken as professional advice.
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🎧 Listen to the podcast
Substack (behind-the-scenes + updates)
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🎙 Any Job Can Be a Climate Job is produced and hosted by Louisa Henry Edited by Alex LeffOriginal music by Run Riot Run Logo design by Cassidy Frost
