Lab buildings require up to 5-10 times more energy per square foot than office buildings.
These energy demands will continue to increase for companies looking to drive innovation in life sciences, biotechnology, or pharmaceuticals.
More advanced lab equipment, AI technology, and expanding your research operations will all require more power.
The question is…
How do you access more energy while keeping costs low and reducing your carbon footprint?
Let’s explore why an all-electric lab building is the answer to power your life science research.
Image: Bioterra Labs
Courtesy: Longfellow Real Estate Partners
An all-electric lab building operates entirely on electricity.
Renewable energy sources power the structure to eliminate the need for fossil fuels.
It uses high-efficiency electrical systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lab operations.
Smart energy management technologies optimise power use and reduce wasted energy.
Battery storage systems provide backup power to ensure a reliable energy supply.
Sustainable lab design meets net-zero carbon targets and future-proof companies against new regulations.
We must rethink how we power energy-intensive life science research and company operations.
An outdated lab building that runs on fossil fuels faces rising energy costs.
It also may require expensive retrofits to meet new regulations.
Moving your research to an all-electric lab building helps avoid these challenges and provides many benefits.
Let’s explore these benefits in greater detail.
All-electric lab buildings lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%.
Advanced insulation, airtight construction, and efficient ventilation keep indoor temperatures steady while using less energy.
Smart energy controls automatically adjust lighting, ventilation, and climate systems in real-time to use energy efficiently.
Replacing fossil fuel-based systems with electric heating and cooling further cuts your greenhouse gas emissions.
These upgrades help life science companies meet strict carbon reduction laws and support long-term sustainability goals.
Renting lab spaces in outdated buildings exposes you to volatile energy costs.
Switching to electric laboratories can lead to major cost savings.
In fact, solar power can cut energy use by 10% or more in an all-electric lab space.
This allows you to allocate more resources to other areas of your life science research.
Here’s a comparison chart of power usage between an all-electric and outdated lab building.
| Building Type | Energy Consumption (kWh/m²/year) | Building Type | Energy Consumption (kWh/m²/year) |
| CamLIFE Lab Spaces | 300 | Outdated Lab Spaces | 707 |
| CamLIFE Office Spaces | 70 | Outdated Office Spaces | 168 |
| Total | 370 | Total | 875 |
Courtesy: Cambridge Climate Change Strategy
Cambridge is enforcing strict carbon reduction targets to cut emissions from commercial buildings, which includes clinical research facilities.
Their Climate Change Strategy prioritises shifting buildings away from fossil fuels by promoting electrification and energy efficiency.
All-electric lab buildings align with these goals by eliminating gas reliance and reducing carbon emissions.
Life science companies can avoid costly retrofits needed to meet future regulations by investing in a sustainable laboratory now.
This ensures long-term compliance and supports Cambridge’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
All-electric lab buildings use advanced grid interconnections and battery storage systems to stabilise electricity supply for critical operations, such as:
An all-electric lab building also integrates demand-response technology.
This system balances energy loads, reduces strain on power grids, and ensures your lab space operates efficiently during peak demand.
Sustainability isn’t just about energy—it’s also about people.
All-electric, WELL-certified labs and office space improve indoor air quality by eliminating gas combustion and reducing indoor pollutants.
Filtered fresh air, natural lighting design, and adequate ventilation create healthier work environments.
This protects your team from health issues and enhances productivity.
Image: Solar Energy Storage Batteries
Courtesy: New Day Solar
Extreme weather events can disrupt lab operations, damage equipment, and compromise research integrity.
Flood-resistant construction, reinforced electrical systems, and backup battery storage enable all-electric labs to maintain power and prevent costly disruptions.
Advanced HVAC systems and adaptive ventilation help regulate indoor conditions to protect sensitive experiments.
These features ensure lab buildings remain operational, compliant, and structurally sound in unpredictable climate conditions.
Repurposing existing lab buildings instead of constructing new ones reduces whole-life carbon emissions by 40%.
This is how CamLIFE was born.
Part of our innovation campus is home to Victorian-era institutional buildings that are being restored into office space.
Adaptive reuse avoids the environmental impact of demolition, new materials, and construction waste.
It also preserves embodied carbon—the energy and emissions already invested in a lab building’s structure.
The shift to all-electric labs is already underway, and CamLIFE is at the forefront of this transformation in Cambridge.
Developed by Longfellow Real Estate Partners, CamLIFE offers flexible lab spaces ranging from 7,000 to 75,000 square feet.
This makes it suitable for biotech startups and established life science companies alike.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut operating costs, and future-proof your research with CamLIFE’s all-electric lab buildings.
Power your research with clean energy by launching your next lab at CamLIFE.
Contact us today to learn about our flexible leasing plans.
Managing Director, Portfolio Leasing
jbetz@lfrep.com
Partner, Portfolio Leasing
nsherron@lfrep.com
+44 7870 555 955
tmellows@savills.com
+07977 030175
Samuel.denehy@savills.com
+44 7793 808 114
max.bryan@bidwells.co.uk
+44 7879 667 543
dick.wise@bidwells.co.uk
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