The Challenge Forms

Form 1: Registration
Form 2: Preparation
Form 2A: HVAC Response Testing (Optional)
Form 3: Results

This list of questions and points allocations is subject to change at any time before the official Challenge launch in January 2027. The draft list is provided as a reference to those planning to participate.

Form 1: Registration

Form Number	Question	Answer Format	Points	Answer Required?
1	Name of Challenge coordinator	Text	Not scored	Yes
1	Email address of Challenge coordinator	Text	Not scored	Yes
1	Name of your organization (including campus or site name, if applicable)	Text	Not scored	Yes
1	Have you chosen a building to participate in the 2027 Fume Hood Challenge?	Yes No, but I will select one before the deadline of February 28, 2027	Not scored	Yes
1 or 1A	Name of chosen building	Text	Not scored	No
1 or 1A	Address of chosen building. If you have not yet selected a building, please enter the city and country of your organization or site. This will help I2SL to balance geographical representation in the Challenge.	Text	Not scored	Yes
1	Why would you like to participate in the 2027 Fume Hood Challenge?	Text (fewer than 500 characters)	Not scored	Yes
1	Do you agree to follow the Challenge rules and to make a good-faith effort to submit all required Challenge data by the applicable deadlines?	Yes, I am excited to compete No, I am not prepared to compete this year	Not scored	Yes
1	Do you authorize I2SL to share your contact information with eligible Challenge sponsors? Consent is voluntary and is not required in order to participate in the Challenge. Answering "Yes" provides one bonus Challenge point, in recognition of the sponsors' support of the Challenge.	Yes No	1 point for Yes	Yes
1	How did you hear about the Fume Hood Challenge?	Multi-select from list	Not scored	No

Form 2: Preparation

Form Number	Question	Answer Format	Points	Answer Required?
2	Have you submitted the building's data to the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool (LBT)?	Yes No	5 points for Yes	Yes
2	Under what LBT account (email address) was the data entered?	Text	1 point for answer	Yes
2	What is the name of the facility in the LBT?	Text	1 point for answer	Yes
2	Did you run the AIM Report Shut-the-Sash Competition measure on this building?	Yes No	5 points for Yes	Yes
2	What was AIM's predicted savings amount in terms of energy cost per year?	Number (and currency)	1 point for answer	Yes
2	Why did you choose this building for the Challenge?	Multi-select: Greatest energy savings potential Easiest researchers to work with Greatest potential for improving safety Most likely to win a Challenge category Has good sash management already Needs attention for sash management Needs attention for hood or system maintenance Modern control system makes data gathering easier No choice, it's our only building Other reason: ____	1 point for answer	No
2	How would you describe existing (pre-competition) sash management practices in this building?	Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs improvement A mix, depending on the space Don't know	1 point for answer	No
2	What type of data will your competition use to track sash height? (Note: Multiple items can be selected if applicable.)	Continuous data: BAS Continuous data: standalone sensors Continuous data: monitoring or analytics platform Spot readings: BAS Spot readings: standalone sensors Spot readings: manual measurements Other type: _____	1 point for answer	Yes
2	Please describe the methodology (and any software) you will use to collect and analyze sash data.	Free form answer	5 points based on quality of response and any innovative aspects	No
2	If you are not using BAS data, what was the reason? (Select multiple reasons if applicable.)	Hoods are not connected to BAS (no data exists) Facilities not able or willing to provide data access Data believed to be inaccurate Preference for other measurements Other reason: ____	1 point for answer	No
2	What features are present in at least half of your fume hoods?	Yes/no/don't know for each row: VAV operation Vertical raising sashes Horizontal sliding sashes Combination sashes Occupancy sensors Auto sash closers Sash position monitoring	1 point for answer	Yes
2	What is the operating or design sash opening for fume hood sashes at your site?	Number with units (inches, cm, etc)	1 point for answer	Yes
2	What is the typical width of the fume hoods in your facility?	Number with units (feet, cm, etc)	1 point for answer	Yes
2	What type of sash movement do your hoods predominantly have?	Vertical-sliding Horizontal-sliding Combination (both horizontal and vertical) Other type: _____	1 point for answer	Yes
2	Were you able to obtain an existing inventory of the building's fume hoods?	Yes, from EH&S and it was sufficient Yes, from other department and it was sufficient Yes, but it was incomplete Yes, constructed by Challenge coordinator No	1 point for answer	No
2	What is the predominant brand of fume hood controls in this building? Please enter the name of the most prevalent controls brand, or if several brands are used in significant quantities, list multiple brands. Examples include Siemens and Antec.	Text	1 point for answer	No
2	What is the predominant brand of fume hood cabinet in this building? Please enter the name of the most prevalent brand, or if several brands are used in significant quantities, list multiple brands. Examples include Bicasa and Dynaflow.	Text	1 point for answer	No
2	Have shut the sash competitions previously been held in this building? (Select multiple answers if applicable.)	Yes, every year Yes, as part of a lab certification program Yes, occasionally Yes, once or twice before No, but they are run at other buildings at my organization No, and not elsewhere at my organization either Don't know	1 point for answer	No
2	When consulting EH&S and/or Facilities before the challenge, were any concerns raised and was any additional information required?	Free text answer	1 point for answer	No

Form 2A: HVAC Response Testing (Optional)

Form Number	Question	Answer Format	Points	Answer Required?
2A	Did you perform the HVAC response testing task? If no, say why not.	Yes/No/Text	5 points for Yes, 1 point for reason why not.	No
2A	Please enter the key result from the testing (see script for details)	This quantity is a proxy for the level of response expected from the building when the sashes are moved.	1 point for key result shared	No
2A	Please write a few sentences about how you conducted the HVAC response testing and what you learned from it.	Free form answer	5 points based on quality of response and any innovative aspects	No

Form 3: Results

Form Number	Question	Answer Format	Points	Answer Required?
3	Did your actual sash data methods differ from the plan you reported earlier (in Form 2)? If yes, describe the differences.	Text	1 point for answer	Yes
3	What was the total number of occupants (i.e., those using the fume hoods, including students in teaching labs) engaged in your 2027 Challenge?	Number	1 point for answer	No
3	How many fume hoods were involved in your 2027 Challenge? (Note: Number could be less than the total number in the building.)	Number	Up to 5 points	Yes
3	Which groups did you engage in the Challenge effort at this building? (Select all that apply.)	Green labs staff Researchers Sustainability staff Energy management Facilities Controls group EH&S Student research groups Student council(s) American Chemical Society chapters Teaching lab leadership Research management Other leadership Other group(s): ______	1 point per item checked, up to maximum of 3	Yes
3	Which stakeholders were informed (and which provided their permission) before the building engaged in the Challenge?	Table with informed/gave permission/did not inform/don't know: Facilities EH&S Dept leadership Other group(s): ______	1 point per group checked, up to maximum of 1	Yes
3	Out of the following, please put a check next to the communication strategies you used as part of your shut-the-sash competition. (Select all that apply)	Screens or posters in hallways Posters in bathrooms Posters in labs Sash stickers Emails Automated emails connected to BAS Dashboards showing data Training sessions Lab visits Town hall meetings Social media Website Newsletter Other(s): ______	1 point per item checked, up to maximum of 3	Yes
3	Were users informed about any of the following? (Select all that apply.)	The need to keep hoods clear and unobstructed What to do if a hood appears to be malfunctioning When it is appropriate to use fume hoods Why shutting the sash is beneficial (when not actively using the hood) How fume hoods work The potential energy impact of each hood The importance of cleaning spills Where to store chemicals How to properly dispose of unwanted chemicals What kind of fume hood (e.g. CAV or VAV) they have No, users did not receive educational information as part of the Challenge Other(s): ______	1 point per item checked, up to maximum of 3	Yes
3	What types of incentives did you provide to participants during the competition to encourage engagement and compliance? (Select all that apply.)	Gathering with food Gift cards Trophy Talks or speaking engagements Sash monitors or alarms as prizes Recognition within department communications External recognition (newsletters etc) Social media call-outs No incentives Other _______	1 point for answer	Yes
3	What information did you find effective to educate and/or motivate your competition participants?	List of options (to be provided)	1 point for answer	No
3	How much did you spend on your shut-the-sash competition, and how was it funded?	Free text answer	1 point for answer	No
3	Please provide any additional information about your competition, e.g., innovative aspects of its implementation, that this questionnaire did not cover.	Free text answer	5 points based on quality of response and any innovative aspects	No
3	What was the average sash position in the pre-competition baseline period? And what was the average fraction of fume hoods that were nearly closed (<20 percent open)?	Numbers (as %); note that additional numbers may also be provided (more details are in sash data documentation).	Up to 15 points, based on performance achieved	Yes
3	During what period were the pre-competition readings taken?	Dates of start and end of period	1 point for answer	Yes
3	What was the average sash position in the post-intervention performance period? And what was the average fraction of fume hoods that were nearly closed (<20 percent open)?	Numbers (as %); note that additional numbers may also be provided (more details are in sash data documentation).	Up to 15 points, based on performance achieved	Yes
3	During what period were the post-intervention readings taken?	Dates of start and end of period	1 point for answer	Yes
3	Did you share information with Facilities about hood sharing, hibernation, and assessing the need for new fume hoods during the design process?	Yes, and name/role of person: _______ No, because: ________	3 points for completion; 1 point if not done but reason provided	No
3	How many hoods were hibernated or decommissioned (or are planned to be) as a result of the fume hood challenge?	Number	Up to 3 points	Yes
3	What (if any) other outcomes have resulted from this challenge? (Select all that apply.)	Work orders for repair of hoods or hood controls Work order for repair of other HVAC equipment (VAV boxes, sensors, etc) CAV hoods evaluated for conversion to VAV Hoods or labs rebalanced Created or improved system for reporting issues with hood operation. No other outcomes Other _____	1 point per item checked, up to maximum of 3	No
3	Have you (or others involved with running the facility) investigated other opportunities to reduce energy usage by the building's HVAC systems? (Note: efforts carried out since January 1, 2025, may be included.) Select all options that apply.	Yes, we used the full AIM Report to identify opportunities Yes, we (or our consultant) performed an energy audit Yes, a retrocommissioning study has been performed No, but we plan to do one this year No, and we do not plan to do one Other (and provide reason): _____	3 points for Yes	Yes
3	Please provide a short narrative about the assessment that was done, and about any next steps you (or others at the facility) will take towards further development of the potential projects.	Free text box	5 points based on quality of response and any innovative aspects	No
3	Did you share information about hood maintenance and testing best practices with the group responsible for this?	Yes, and name/role of person: _______ No, because: ________	3 points for completion; 1 point if not done but reason provided	No
3	Feedback survey: How satisfied are you with the results of the shut the sash competition in this building?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What was the most successful aspect (or aspects) of the competition?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What was the most challenging aspect of the competition?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What piece of data was most difficult to collect?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What additional resources would it be useful for I2SL to provide in future years?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: How much time did you spend on the Fume Hood Challenge?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What suggestions do you have for future years of the Fume Hood Challenge?	Text	1 point for answer	No
3	Feedback survey: What other stakeholders would you include in the Challenge next year?	Text	1 point for answer	No

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