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Energy
Conservation Reminder:
Cooling Season Curtailment Steps
As
part of the University's on-going efforts to save energy and natural
resources, the Department of Facilities and Real Estate Services
plans to institute the same curtailments used last summer.
Through
these measures in 2001, Penn reduced consumption by five percent,
thus saving more than 18.5 million kilowatt hours. This is the
equivalent of planting 5300 acres of trees or removing 2500 cars
from the road.
Across
campus, for the past several weeks, Facilities staff have been
fine-tuning systems and adjusting space temperatures from the
heating season set-point of 68 degrees to the cooling season set-point
of 78 degrees. In many of the newer buildings this may be done
remotely, however in the older buildings adjustments are typically
made at space thermostats throughout the building. Therefore in
older buildings occupants are asked to please maintain 78 degrees.
In
the event of extreme heat--typically when outside conditions reach
94 degrees with 50 percent humidity--Facilities will institute an
action plan that calls for:
-
Sending
out alerts asking the Penn community to turn off all lighting
in areas with any natural daylight. In areas without natural
day lighting, but with task lighting, only overhead lighting
should be turned off.
-
Shutting
down select equipment (i.e. air handling units, general exhaust
fans, etc.) in specific buildings in consultation with appropriate
school officials.
-
Instituting
rolling 30-minute shutdowns of some air handling units with
as much prior notification to appropriate school officials as
possible.
-
Requesting
that faculty and staff leave after noon or be directed to work
at home since peak demand usually occurs between 1 and 4 p.m.
This step requires the approval of the Provost and the Executive
Vice President. Announcements will be made through e-mail,
voice mail and the MELT line, which is typically used for snow
emergencies.
Thank
you for your attention in reviewing these steps in preparation
for the challenges of this cooling season. With your support and
cooperation, we will be successful in helping the University in
this critical effort.
--
Omar Blaik, Vice President,Facilities
& Real Estate Services
--
Barry Hilts, Associate Vice President,Facilities
Operations
Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 35, May 28, 2002
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ISSUE
HIGHLIGHTS:
Tuesday,
May 28, 2002
Volume 48 Number 35
www.upenn.edu/almanac/
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