It's that time of year again — to stop worrying about staying cool and to start worrying about staying warm.
Heat has been turned on in most University buildings, according to administrators. Vice President of Facilities Management Stephen Maiorisi said the "heat plant is turned on the same time every year," around late September or early October. He said air conditioning is no longer an option after heat has been turned on.
The decision to turn on heat is "weather dependent" and based on University policy, said Carlos Fernandez, assistant vice president of facilities operations and engineering. One reason heat is turned on is if a temperature of 50 degrees or lower is "sustained for a period of time," Maiorisi said.
Cost is not a factor in the decision to turn on the heat, Maiorisi said. "The decision has an impact on cost, but cost never drives the decision," he said. Fernandez said upgrades to campus infrastructure will help the University reduce carbon emissions. "All pipelines are new and insulated, efficient in all aspects — carbon emissions, energy, cost," he said.
Fernandez advised to "check the Facility webpage" to see when the heat will be turned on in specific buildings and to "keep windows closed at night to keep the temperature in the building."
