Going Green @ Haverford

Facilities Management Department has developed an Energy Conservation Awareness Initiative to help mitigate the unprecedented escalation in energy prices that has occurred globally in recent months.

 As we face this challenge, we are calling upon our campus community to support this campus initiative by implementing simple changes in energy utilization behaviors that can positively affect operating costs and the environment while relieving some pressure on institutional resources.   We have identified four major awareness components of this program below.

 Wintertime Energy Conservation Guidelines

 Adjust Office and Building Temperatures to 68 Degrees Fahrenheit

 

Buildings that have centralized temperature controls will be set at a temperature of 68 degrees.   This includes administrative, academic, residence and athletic facilities.

• In buildings and rooms with thermostats that are not centrally controlled, individual occupants should manually set the temperature to 68 degrees
• Building occupants are encouraged to remove all items that block heating registers, radiators and baseboard radiation strips to allow proper heating distribution and air circulation to each space.
• The campus community is encouraged to close all exterior windows and doors in order to minimize heat loss from buildings.   Doors should not be propped open.   Operations staff members are requested to make sure that roll-up overhead doors remain closed in loading and receiving areas while not in use

 Minimize Use of Space Heaters

• It is estimated that there are many space heaters on campus.
• Building occupants are encouraged to minimize the use of electric space heaters

 

Summertime Energy Conservation Guidelines

 Adjust Office and Building Temperatures to 77 Degrees Fahrenheit

• Buildings that have centralized temperature controls will be set at a temperature of 76 degrees his includes administrative, academic, residential and athletic facilities.
• In buildings and rooms with thermostats that are not centrally controlled, individual occupants should manually set the temperature to 76 degrees.
• Building occupants are encouraged to remove all items that block cooling and return registers to allow proper cooling distribution and air circulation to each space.
• The campus community is encouraged to close all exterior windows and doors in order to minimize the loss of cooled air from building.   Doors should not be proper open.

 

Adopt a 10-Minute Lighting Guideline

• Building occupants are requested to adopt a “10-Minute Lighting Guideline” and turn off lights if you are leaving a room for more than 10 minutes.
• Additionally, building occupants are also requested to turn off lights in areas with adequate natural lighting and consider using task lighting instead of overhead lights in areas without natural daylight.

 

Thank you for your support and continued dedication in helping the College to succeed in this critical effort.

Energy Saving Tips

 Students, faculty and staff can help the energy conservation effort by following these tips:

 Copiers & Printers

      Think before you print!  Print and copy as little as possible.

      When you must print, do it double-sided.

      Edit on screen, not on paper.

      Save to disk instead of printing on paper.

      Use e-mail to minimize paper use and don’t routinely print e-mails.

      Send and store documents electronically instead of on paper.

      Designate a box for scrap paper and use it for printing all drafts or unofficial documents.

      Circulate documents instead of making an individual copy for everyone.

      Reuse envelopes by placing a new label over the old address.

 

 

Heating and Cooling:

      Dress appropriately to the season and keep thermostats set at 68 degrees.

During the heating season, open blinds, drapes and curtains to let sun in.   If cloudy, close them to keep the heat in especially at night.

During the cooling season close blinds, drapes and curtains to block direct sun.

Use hot water sparingly.

Lights:

      Turn off unused or unneeded lights.

      Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting whenever possible.

      Try task lighting and reduce overhead lighting.

      If you have a desk lamp, make sure it uses a fluorescent bulb.

      Don’t use table lamps unless illumination from the lamps is actually needed.

“10 Minute Rule” Please use the 10 min. rule:  If you do not plan to be in your room, or office for more then ten mins. Turn off your lights

Windows and Doors:

 

      Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air conditioned areas

      Close vestibule doors when propped open.

      Keep rollup doors closed in shipping/receiving area closed when not in use.

Report Energy Waste

Please report instances of energy waste to the Office of Facilities Management (610-896-1100).

Guidelines for Electric Space Heaters

The first phase of the HC Energy Conservation Program is to garner support from the campus community by creating greater awareness, and identifying simple ways in which the campus can contribute.  Minimizing the use of space heaters was identified as a key component to the energy conservation initiative.   Space heathers are a very costly means of heating, therefore, we should optimize their utilization by using them as a temporary solution, pending the repair or adjustment of a building’s main heating system.

In addition to the cost of operation, space heathers can also represent potential fire hazards.   Therefore, we should also be mindful of the safety guidelines related to space heater use.

Safety Guidelines for Space Heaters:

• No liquid fueled space heaters (e.g., kerosene heaters) are to be used in any College building.
• Heaters must meet the following characteristics:
  • Have UL approval
  • Have heating elements that are protected from contact
  • Be tilt-proof (when tipped over the heater turns off)
  • Have adjustable heating controls
  • Three feet of clearance is required around all space heaters.  NOTHING may be placed on, over, above, or around a space heater.
  • Space heaters are only used while under direct supervision.
  • When not in use, the space heater shall be unplugged from the wall electric outlet.
  • Extension cords are not to be used with space heaters
  • Space heaters may not be tipped over or positioned in any way other than intended.
  • The user should inspect the space heater daily for cord cracks, hot spots, or signs of wear.  Any deficiencies shall be reported to the Office of Facilities Management, ext. 1096.
• For additional information on safe space heater usage, please contact the Office of Safety and Security at extension 1111

 

What if I already have a space heater?

Electric space heaters should be used in areas where a space temperature of 68 degrees is unattainable:

• Privately owned space heaters should be taken home by the owners.
• All College-owned space heaters that are currently in buildings on campus should be unplugged and placed in storage in each department/work area.   If no space exists in the department or work area, please alert Facilities, who will store the device.
• If you believe your space heater does not meet the aforementioned Safety Guidelines for Space Heaters, it should be removed from use completely.

 

Are You Cold?

In efforts to conserve energy the College is asking that temperatures be maintained at 68 degrees.   Please confirm the following before seeking additional assistance:

• Area rugs or carpet are not pushed under baseboard heating strips
• Furniture is at least six inches away from any baseboard heat unit.
• Windows and doors are closed.
• If located within your area, please confirm that the thermostat is set at 68 degrees.

 

If you are still cold and you believe your office is colder than 68 degrees, please contact your department unit head or director (or his/her representative).  In a residence hall, residents should contact the ORCD Senior Staff member on duty.   If required, they will place a call for a heating Work Order to the Office of Facilities Management at ext. 1351.   The Office of Facilities Management will respond and follow their procedures for performing a temperature evaluation.   If possible, Facilities Management will attempt to adjust the temperature using the building’s heating system.

If it is determined that the temperature cannot be maintained using the building heating system, the College may, on a case by case basis, approve temporary use of space heaters.

The use of space heaters in academic, administrative, and athletic building will also require prior approval of the department’s unit head or director.   The use of space heaters in residential building will also require prior approval by the Senior Staff member on duty.   The department unit head or director (or his/her representative) and residence hall Senior Staff members on duty are responsible for compliance with the space heater guidelines in their respective areas of responsibility.

When no longer required all space heaters in academic, administrative, and athletic buildings shall be returned to the unit head or director (or his/her representative).   When no longer required, all space heaters in residential buildings shall be returned to Senior Staff member on duty.

Are you Too Warm?

Sometimes adjustments are needed to a building’s heating system.  If you believe your office is too warm, please contact the Office of Facilities Management at extension 1096.  In a residence hall, residents should contact the ORCD Senior Staff member on duty.   If required, they will place a call for a heating work Order to the Office of Facilities Management at extension 1096.

In efforts to conserve energy, please remember:

• Heating and cooling systems should not be used simultaneously.

Opening windows and doors is a waste of energy.   The heating system will continue to operate and try to maintain the thermo

The Dining Center will be going trayless on Tuesdays starting April 13, 2010. Each tray washed uses 1/3-1/2 gallon of water and demands energy to heat the water and run the dishwasher. That’s $0.50 in energy, water, detergent, and labor costs per rack of dishes.

Not using a tray in the Dining Center comes with big benefits:

• If every dining center customer uses a tray, it costs $843.75 per week – or $27,000 per year – in energy, water, detergent, and labor costs.
• Going trayless could reduce food waste by 25-30%

Brought to you by EarthQuakers, CER, and the Dining Center.

Questions? hcearthquakers@gmail.com

The Facilities Management Department has developed an Energy Conservation Awareness Initiative to help mitigate the unprecedented escalation in energy prices that has occurred globally in recent months.

As we face this challenge, we are calling upon our campus community to support this campus initiative by implementing simple changes in energy utilization behaviors that can positively affect operating costs and the environment while relieving some pressure on institutional resources.   We have identified four major awareness components of this program below.
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In response to the comment on the last post, Ron Tola, director of facilities management, tells me that the two units are ground source heat pumps, with one unit for the second floor and another for the third floor of the residence. The lines are buried about 70 feet deep in a “cone” configuration with about 8 vertical members for each unit.

Want to know more about Haverford College’s geothermal wells? Ask the green squirrel.

The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity.  Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.

1 College Circle has two geothermal wells. They are used to provide 2/3 of the heating and cooling for the house. While modified systems, they provide enough energy to heat and cool the second and third floors.

Other geothermal facts of interest:

• California has 33 geothermal power plants and is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world.
• The EPA has determined that geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost effective systems for temperature control.

During the 2007 Plenary, Haverford students elected to spend an extra $60 per student to purchase 100% wind energy for the College.

While the College is not directly buying wind energy, it is buying “offsets” that invest in renewable energy. For instance, funds are used to create wind farms that will eventually provide electricity.

Haverford College is one of a growing number of colleges purchasing wind energy for their campus. In July 2008, the United States overtook Germany as the world’s top wind energy producer.

Photo by Gerard Lovett, used under the creative commons license.

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

President Emerson signed this commitment in the summer of 2007.

The presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves:

• Completing an emissions inventory
• Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.
• Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions.
• Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience.
• Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

Learn more about this initiative including the full text of the commitent.

Claudia Kent, sustainability coordinator, will periodically post the CER’s “Campus Sustainability Status Report” in response to the president’s commitment. The report for the period of May15 – June 30, 2008 is available as a PDF.