Facilities and Construction Resources: Energy Conservation Operation Plan

The hours of air conditioning and heating support on campus will be reduced according to published schedules, to include any extended holiday periods or shortened workday periods.

Energy Management Temperature Settings

Temperature levels will be set according to the Temperature Control parameters as adopted through the Performance Contract established with the Energy Management Company. The parameters are as follows:

  • 75.1°F
    • Cooling starts
  • 72.9°F
    • Cooling stops
  • 71–73°F
    • Space is satisfied and maintains minimum airflow
  • 71.1°F
    • Heating stops
  • 68.9°F
    • Heating starts

During cooling periods, compressors in each building will be cycled during regular working hours on a random basis to lower the peak demand.

Best Practices

Faculty and Staff

  • Turn off unnecessary lights in classrooms and offices when unoccupied and at the end of the working day.
  • Turn off all individual air units at the end of each day.

Student Housing

  • Turn off unnecessary lights, and housing staff will monitor general areas of residence halls periodically for unnecessary lighting in occupied spaces.

Energy Conservation

General Monitoring and Operations

  • Custodial Staff will monitor lighting and turn off lights in unoccupied classrooms and other areas (such as hallways) unless this would create a hazard.
  • Supervisory Personnel during the evening hours will monitor outdoor lighting on campus, as will the University Police Department.
  • University Police Department will monitor broadly lighted areas at night to eliminate wasteful lighting (tennis courts, Intramural fields, etc.). All lights in such areas will be turned off when facilities are not being used.

Events and Scheduling

  • Special Events and non-academic activities scheduled in normal conservation periods will be limited. If events are deemed appropriate and necessary, attempts must be made to schedule them in buildings that will have individual air conditioning/heating support at those times.

Building Operations After Hours

  • Building Staff in facilities such as the Library and Recreation Center, which operate after hours, will be expected to monitor the buildings to ensure that HVAC systems are operated only as needed and that all unnecessary lighting is turned off.
  • Staff are expected to take advantage of zoned heating and cooling areas for functions after regular operating hours.

Designated Responsibility

  • One person shall be designated each year in each major building to be responsible for conservation of energy efforts (make recommendations on decreased lighting, report leaky faucets, other energy saving measures, etc.).

Equipment and Electrical Load Management

  • Attempts to turn on large equipment, major lighting and other mechanical systems must be coordinated through Facilities in order to avoid unnecessary demand charges.
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