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Energy
Conservation
The
University's energy conservation initiatives and programs have yielded
impressive results because of your support and cooperation. As we
move into the winter season, there are several new initiatives that
we would like you to be aware of.
Energy
Conservation Initiatives
1.
Lower Temperature Set-points, Air Handling Unit (AHU) Shutdown,
and implement clearly defined Building Usage/Occupation Schedules:
Thermostats
should be set to the lowest comfortable level during normal work
hours and reduced further upon leaving an occupied space. Each degree
of setback corresponds to approximately a 5% savings. Where there
are specific research needs adjustments may be made. Selected AHUs
will be placed on localized seven-day timers or, where applicable,
remotely shut down when buildings are unoccupied.
The
recommended temperatures are: Occupied: 68 Degrees
F and Unoccupied: 65 Degrees F.
2.
Reduce overall power consumption by shutting off lights, space
heaters, computers, monitors, and other related office or intermittently-used
lab equipment upon leaving an occupied space.
3.
Notify Facilities Services/Operations and Maintenance of any
excessive drafts occurring around windows or doors.
4.
Notify Facilities Services/Operations and Maintenance when any
building is unoccupied or out of service. Close all exterior windows
and doors to minimize infiltration of cold outdoor air.
In
addition, Facilities Services/Operations and Maintenance will oversee
the following:
- Tune-up
and verification of air handling unit compliance with the minimum
required outside air for proper building ventilation.
- Tune-up
of Energy Recovery Systems, Reheat Systems, Perimeter Radiation,
Steam Converters and Heat Exchangers to the utmost efficiency.
- Elimination
of Campus/Building Distribution System Steam Leaks, Un-insulated
Steam Pipes & Steam Converters, and Verification of Steam
Trap Operations.
These
initiatives are being implemented in cooperation with the Schools
and Centers and the Office of Environmental Health and Radiation
Safety, which will assess the impact of this policy and advise necessary
changes and improvements. As we realized last year, building systems
may need re-calibrations after temperatures are reset. If you experience
discomfort please do not assume it is a result of the energy conservation
plan. Instead, report such discomfort since it may be caused by
a malfunctioning building system that can be repaired.
As
we move forward into this heating season we ask everyone to join
together, as one Penn community, in furthering a wise, sensitive
and forward-thinking energy conservation policy.
--Omar
Blaik, Vice President, Facilities Services
--Barry
Hilts, Associate Vice President, Facilities Operations
Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 10, October 30, 2001
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ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:
Tuesday,
October 30, 2001
Volume 48 Number 10
www.upenn.edu/almanac/
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