How Turnkey Managed Services Can Help R&D Facilities Meet Net-Zero Goals

Turnkey managed services help research laboratories streamline sustainability efforts by integrating technology, data, and performance-based strategies to achieve net-zero goals efficiently. Dan Diehl, chief executive officer of Thrive Buildings, speaks to Lab Design News about hurdles and benefits related to turnkey labs.

As research institutions and laboratories increasingly pursue ambitious net-zero carbon targets, the path to achieving those goals often feels complex and fragmented. Lab architects, planners, and facility managers face a landscape where technical innovation, financial constraints, and operational efficiency must all align. Turnkey managed services are emerging as a powerful strategy to bridge these gaps, helping research organizations not only meet sustainability objectives but also improve operational resilience, health, and safety outcomes.

The challenge of net-zero alignment

One of the biggest hurdles for research laboratories seeking net-zero performance is institutional alignment. Laboratories are complex ecosystems, and success requires coordination among diverse stakeholders—including principal investigators, researchers, business operations, sustainability officers, environmental health and safety teams, animal care specialists, and executive leadership. “Institutional alignment among the many diverse constituent groups…is always the single most important determinant of whether an organization achieves the proven performance outcomes associated with the design and long-term operation of, let’s say, a ‘best-in-class’ laboratory,” says Dan Diehl, chief executive officer of Thrive Buildings. He emphasizes that the necessary technology and know-how already exist, but commitment across all stakeholders is the foundation for success.

In many institutions, the pursuit of net-zero can be hindered by siloed decision-making and competing priorities. Traditional project-by-project approaches often leave facility managers juggling multiple vendors, products, and initiatives that do not always integrate seamlessly. This can create confusion, inefficiencies, and suboptimal results.

The turnkey advantage

Turnkey managed services offer a holistic approach that simplifies this complexity. By providing a single point of accountability, these programs take full responsibility for design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and ongoing performance. “A turnkey model provides owners with an ‘easy button’—a single entity responsible for delivery. This company should take full incentive risk and performance responsibility, lowering capital costs and ensuring that clients achieve the savings they commit to, or they don’t get paid,” Diehl tells Lab Design News.

A real-world example illustrates the potential impact. A $2 million optimization project implemented through a turnkey approach addressed deferred maintenance and deployed an Independent Data Layer (IDL) under a $1 purchase order. The initiative generated $138,000 in positive cash flow in its first year and ultimately achieved $2.34 million in net present value (NPV) with annual savings of $500,000. For facility managers, turnkey services can transform what is often a convoluted and resource-intensive process into a streamlined, high-impact program.

With many universities receiving a 10-year extension to meet federal net-zero targets, facility leaders have an unprecedented window to plan strategically. Diehl advises starting with a comprehensive portfolio assessment to identify which buildings are core, which will remain in use long-term, and where optimization will provide the greatest benefit. Efficiency initiatives are essential, but they are only part of the solution. Supply-side procurement strategies, energy mix planning, and resiliency measures such as battery storage should also be part of the strategy.

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good,” Diehl says. He underscores that many opportunities for improvement are clear from a business perspective and can be implemented incrementally to generate early wins, reduce operational costs, and build momentum for larger sustainability projects.

Advanced technologies and data integration

Technology plays a pivotal role in enabling laboratories to decarbonize and operate efficiently. AI-enabled building management, predictive maintenance, and Independent Data Layers can transform energy management and operational oversight. “Most lab building owners either need to or soon will need to adopt an IDL to fully leverage the current and future benefits of AI and advanced analytics,” Diehl notes.

An IDL enables organizations to consolidate data into a centralized “data lake,” providing actionable insights for fault detection, energy management, predictive maintenance, and even space utilization. While implementation may initially surface issues requiring attention, over time it drives sustained performance and continuous improvement, turning data into a strategic asset for long-term sustainability.

Addressing financial pressures and workforce gaps

Turnkey managed services are also financially attractive. As institutions face rising utility costs and decreasing recoverable funds, these programs can be structured to generate positive cash flow with minimal upfront investment. Integrating deferred maintenance into efficiency upgrades allows savings to be reinvested into critical infrastructure improvements, providing both operational and fiscal resilience.

Workforce shortages in facilities management are another pressing concern. Advanced systems and automated monitoring can reduce the burden on limited staff, enabling them to focus on high-priority tasks while maintaining safe and efficient lab operations.

For laboratories housed in older facilities, impactful upgrades often start with relatively straightforward projects, such as converting constant-volume HVAC systems to variable-volume, optimizing exhaust, or addressing deferred maintenance. Quick wins help build internal support, demonstrating the tangible benefits of energy optimization while laying the foundation for more complex initiatives.

Even simple behavior-based changes—like better fume hood management or integrating sustainability resources offered by organizations such as My Green Lab and I2SL—can produce measurable results without waiting for major capital projects or facility overhauls.

Looking ahead

The next decade is likely to see R&D organizations increasingly balancing scientific innovation with environmental responsibility. According to Diehl, AI and data-driven tools will reshape research operations, while turnkey managed services will become an essential strategy to optimize resources, enhance resiliency, and achieve sustainability goals in a financially responsible way. “Ultimately, I see the role of managed services providers growing as they help organizations offset or outsource non-core functions, becoming more flexible, resilient, and better equipped to thrive in a resource-constrained future,” he says.

For lab architects, planners, and managers, embracing turnkey managed services offers a pragmatic, measurable, and replicable path toward net-zero laboratories—helping organizations turn ambition into action while supporting operational excellence, safety, and long-term value.