June 27, 2002
Expect warmer offices this summer
Campus employees used to a comfortably air-conditioned office might be getting a little hot under the collar this summer.
Those buildings that are air conditioned will be cooled to 78 degrees this summer as compared to 72 degrees in the past. The change is part of the University’s continuing efforts to reduce energy usage.
“We’re still trying to get to the overall goal of reducing energy use by 10 percent,” said the UW’s John Chapman, the director of campus engineering and operations. “Some months we’re there and some months we’re not.”
In fact, since January 2000, energy usage has continually declined on campus. Comparing the first four months of 2002 with the first four months of 2000, energy usage is down by 7.5 percent, 4.7 percent, 7.4 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. That saved the UW more than $500,000, according to information provided by Facilities Services.
Chapman said 78 degrees should be tolerable in most areas on campus. Some of the exceptions to the new rule are patient-care facilities and certain research facilities, which will continue to be cooled to 72 degrees.
Chapman said part of the conservation challenge is to keep people focused on saving energy even this year when the crisis isn’t as bad as 2001.
“The energy is available, so we don’t have to worry about that,” he said. “But it’s still a crisis for the University because the cost of these utilities is very high. The more energy we can save, the less of a negative impact it’s going to have on our budget.”
