Energy Management in Existing Facilities

  1. Space Temperatures: General space temperatures shall be maintained by Facilities Management at levels approved by the Energy Management Committee Space temperatures will be targeted for 68° during the heating season and 76° during the cooling season during occupied hours. The target temperatures are within the range that is acceptable to 80 percent of the building occupants per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 552010, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. This will be one aspect of the Education and Awareness program.
  2. Operating Hours of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment: Buildings that have automation systems to control HVAC systems will be scheduled occupied during normal hours of building operation and unoccupied outside of those hours in order to reduce energy usage and expenditure as much as possible while providing for a safe and comfortable environment for students, visitors, faculty, and staff.
  3. Lighting: Office and general lighting in buildings should be off during unoccupied hours, unless required for security or personal safety in acknowledged risk areas. Task lighting and natural light from windows and skylights are strongly encouraged and should be employed before general room lighting is activated. Decorative lighting is discouraged and should be kept to a minimum. Exterior lighting should be employed only for personal safety and security and should minimize night light pollution as well as threats to migratory birds. Lighting levels recommended in the most recent edition of the IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) will be used as guidelines and occupancy shall be utilized. LED or latest energy technology shall be utilized unless there is a use justification for otherwise.
  4. Water: Water consumption should be minimized wherever and whenever possible. Water should not be left running and unattended. City water (potable water) shall not be used for direct cooling of equipment unless specifically approved by OVCAS, or its designee. Such “once-through” water cooling systems, generally installed years ago for specialized apparatus, are prohibited because they run large amounts of potable water to drain, commonly twenty-four hours a day. Use of potable water for future landscaping purposes shall be kept to a minimum. These systems shall be phased out.
  5. Holiday Periods and Summer Session: During periods when normal campus operations are suspended (e.g., December holiday break), substantial shutdown of normal heating and air conditioning will occur. During the winter heating season, space temperatures as low as 55º F are possible. During the summer cooling season, space temperatures as high as 85º F are possible. Only specific, documented temperature requirements in pre-approved areas may supersede the above unoccupied limits. In addition, college deans and academic administrators are encouraged to schedule Summer Session classes in as few buildings as possible. This also will allow Facilities Management to substantially reduce air conditioning needs in buildings where use is minimized in the summer.