Energy Conservation & Sustainability

Our cooling strategies are governed by ASHRAE 55 standards to ensure optimal thermal conditions for human occupancy. We utilize data loggers to monitor humidity and temperature, ensuring that our systems provide comfort without unnecessary waste.

• Cooling Season: 
  • Occupied areas are maintained between 74°F – 78°F. 
  • Unoccupied areas are set to 85°F.
• Heating Season: 
  • Occupied areas are maintained between 68°F – 72°F. 
  • Unoccupied areas are set to 55°F.
  • May be adjusted to 60°F during extreme weather.
• Exhaust Fans: All exhaust fans should be turned off at the end of each day.
• Unoccupied Times: Turn off AC equipment once students exit. It is anticipated that residual cooling will maintain comfort for the remaining faculty.
• Startup & Maintenance: Start times may be weather-adjusted to ensure comfort by the start of instruction. Outside air dampers must remain closed during unoccupied periods. 
• Heat Pumps: Maintain a 6°F dead-band between heating and cooling modes.
• Humidity & Airflow: Humidity levels must stay below 60% over any 24-hour period. Utilize ceiling fans in all equipped areas.
• Natural Ventilation: In mild weather, shut down HVAC and use cross-ventilation (opening windows/doors on opposite sides of a room) to regulate temperature.
• Door Policy: Keep instruction room doors closed when HVAC is operating. Ensure doors between conditioned and non-conditioned spaces (like hallways to gyms or pools) remain closed at all times.
• System Shutdowns: In spring and fall, switch off steam and forced-air systems during unoccupied times. For hot water systems, utilize loop pumps to shut down heating.

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• Daily Action: All lights must be switched off when leaving a room. Custodial and security teams will verify the total shutdown of non-essential lighting each night.
• Occupancy & Schedules: Lighting in all areas - including classrooms, offices, and common spaces - should be off during unoccupied periods.
• Equipment Guidelines: Use "energy saver" settings for all electronics. Personal office equipment, such as lamps and non-networked printers, must be powered down nightly.
• Monitoring: The Energy Management System (EMS) and onsite personnel conduct routine audits to ensure compliance with lighting efficiency standards.

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• Leak Management: All plumbing and structural (e.g., roof) leaks must be reported and repaired immediately.
• Irrigation Timing: Grounds watering is restricted to 4 AM – 10 AM to minimize evaporation.
• Prohibited Hours: Do not water during the heat of the day, specifically between 10 AM and 8 PM.
• System Protection: When using spray irrigation, ensure water does not hit campus facilities or structures.

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Small actions lead to significant impact. Our protocols require that non-essential office machinery, computers, and lighting be powered down nightly. We also utilize "energy saver" modes and power management features across our technology infrastructure to maximize savings.

• Nightly Shutdown: Turn off all computers, monitors, local printers, and speakers each night. (Network/LAN equipment is excluded).
• Energy Saver Mode: Ensure PCs are programmed for "energy saver" mode. Monitors should be set to "sleep" after 10 minutes of inactivity.
• Office Machinery: Copy machines, laminating equipment, and other heavy machinery must be switched off nightly and during unoccupied times. (Fax machines and networked printers may remain on).

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