How Scoring for the Freezer Challenge Works

In most cases, each best practice action on the Freezer Challenge scoresheet is worth 1 point, with a few exceptions. An example of this is the first question, "Identify the number of cold storage units in each category you have done a full defrost on...." - for each freezer you fully defrost, you earn 1 point. Once you submit your data back to My Green Lab, we look at the overall spread of the data across all participating labs, for each question individually, and normalize the points each lab earns so that no single question on the Freezer Challenge scoresheet enables a lab to win. For most questions, the maximum normalized points a lab can earn on that question is 5. The kWh savings My Green Lab estimates for questions where that is relevant are NOT normalized.

Scoresheet Question	How Are Points Treated ​During Scoring?	kWh Savings Estimated?
Full Defrost	Normalized, Max 5 Points	Yes
Cleaning Filters, Coils, Intakes	Normalized, Max 5 Points	Yes
Brushing Frost from Cabinet & Door Seals	Normalized, Max 5 Points	Yes
Updating Inventories	Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Number of Units Where Samples Have Been Discarded	Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Number of Samples Discarded Across All Units	There are 7 options to answer this question, plus the "Not Applicable" option. Each answer option of increasing samples discarded is worth a point value, 1 thru 7	Yes
Transitioned to High Density Format Storage	There are 5 options for answering this question. The first option is worth 1 point, the last option is worth 5 points, with points earned for the in-between options too.	No
Adjusting ULT Freezer Setpoints	Normalized, Max 5 Points	Yes
Samples Moved to Warmer Temperatures	There are 5 options for answering this question. The first option is worth 1 point, the last option is worth 5 points, with points earned for the in-between options too.	No
Retirement of Cold Storage Units	Normalized, Max 6 Points	Yes
Energy Efficient Upgrades	Normalized, Max 6 Points	Yes
Sharing Cold Storage Space	Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Barcoded Inventories	Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Tried Room Temperature Sample Storage for Samples	Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Tried Room Temperature Sample Storage for Reagents & Kits	​Normalized, Max 5 Points	No
Adopted RTSS for Lab Materials	There are 5 options for answering this question. The first option is worth 1 point, the last option is worth 5 points, with points earned for the in-between options too.	No
Community Engagement Question	One point earned for each additional lab you successfully encourage to sign up for the Freezer Challenge. Max 3 Points	No
Text Field for "Additional Actions" Your Lab Does That Are Not Covered By Other Scoresheet Questions	​One point earned for each additional cold storage best practice your lab does; ​Usually Maximum of 3 Points Available	No

Determining a Final Overall Score for Each Lab

Each lab that completes the Freezer Challenge will end up with the Total Points they've earned, according to the table above, as well as their Estimated kWh Saved based on the questions where energy savings are possible. In addition, to look at a few additional metrics, we use the answers you provide on the final page of the scoresheet about the number of cold storage units in your lab total, and estimate the points you've earned per cold storage unit and the kWh saved per cold storage unit. From there, we compare your lab to all other labs within your sector and labs of a similar size to determine the winners.

The first value My Green Lab looks at for determining Freezer Challenge winners is the Total Points Earned (after normalization, according to table above). Second is the estimated kWh savings. If there are two labs that are very close in Total Points Earned, the Energy Savings would determine the tie breaker. 

The overall goal in crowning winners is to reward those that have tried the most cold storage best practices and really committed to implementing them in their lab spaces, while also recognizing the labs that achieved the most in energy efficiency over the previous year. 

Note that if you submit a scoresheet with multiple labs grouped together, you cannot win a lab level award, only be part of an organization level award.