Office Memorandum
Date: October 29, 2009
To: All Departments
From: Hugh
Jesse, Director, Facilities Services
Re: Energy
Conservation/Facilities Services Procedures
The Governor of Montana has set a goal of reducing
energy consumption in state facilities by 20% by the year 2010. The Regents of The Montana University System
have approved a resolution supporting these goals and the President has issued
a memorandum to the campus on August 29, 2008 setting out steps to reduce
energy consumption in the operations of our facilities. These operational changes are the first level
of response to these goals and are intended to start progress towards the goals
now and follow with additional building renovations to further improve
conservation.
I. All electric heaters not authorized by
Facilities Services will be collected by the custodians. The custodians will leave a card indicating
they have removed the electric heater and forwarded it to Facilities Services.
II. The following energy conservation
procedures apply to all University facilities except Residence Life. Residence Life has and will communicate to
all of their students its operational changes and any inquiries should be directed
to the Residence Life Office at ext. 2611.
III. Many buildings have their steam shut off
for the summer for both occupant comfort and energy conservation. Steam gets turned back on in the fall based
on a few criteria.
·
If the average daily temperature (high vs
low) drops to 57 degrees for more than 2 consecutive days (at 65 degrees
industry standards generally believe no heating or cooling is required).
·
If this temperature hasn’t been achieved,
steam is still turned on around the 2nd or 3rd week in
September in order to ensure the buildings are ready for the inevitable cold
and we aren’t caught unprepared.
·
Requests for early building turn on of steam
should be made through the Work Order Desk ext. 6091. A HVAC Technician will investigate the
request and appropriate action will be taken and a decision communicated to the
requesting party.
Energy
Conservation/Facilities Services Procedures
Page
Two
IV. Building Environmental Set Points and
Night Set-Back Schedules
Building temperatures are set at 72
degrees during the cooling season and 68 degrees during the heating season for
daytime hours with a night set back to 60 degrees from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00
a.m. Exceptions include plant and animal
quarters and the Student Health Service infirmary. Domestic hot water temperatures have been set
at 105 degrees in all buildings unless dishwashing and food preparation
facilities are present. Since some of
our buildings still have hand-operated radiator valves or thermostats with
exposed adjustment mechanisms, part of this effort must rely on the honor
system for enforcement.
V. Temperature Set Points and Night
Set-Back Temporary Schedule Modifications
If it is necessary to use space
during off-schedule hours and additional hours of heating are needed, your
request must be received by the Facilities Services Director no later than 1:00
p.m. on the day the additional heat is requested or by 1:00 p.m. on Thursday,
for weekend requests. The request can be
made by calling the Work Order Desk at ext. 6091.
VI.
Temperature Set Points and Night-Set Back Exceptions
If
a space cannot at any time tolerate a swing of temperature (because of life
safety or research criteria needs) to the night-set back temperature of 60oF
then the appropriate Dean or Director should make a request with the
justification and submit it in writing to the Director of Facilities Services.
(A Form will be available on Facilities Services’ Web Page)
VII. Maintenance and Repair
If your office or use area is
continually below the 68 degree limit at particular periods during the week or
day, please notify the Facilities Services Work Order Desk at ext. 6091 rather
than bringing in a space heater.
Facilities Services will investigate and make appropriate changes which
may require supplementary electric heating which will be provided by Facilities
Services except for non-state facilities.
VIII. Room Use
The campus is requested, where
practical, to close doors and windows which have been opened and to shut off
lighting when you leave restrooms, classrooms, offices and laboratories.
IX. The University of Montana energy use
policy requires that all window air conditioning units be replaced with Energy
Star rated units by January 1, 2010.
Departmentally owned units will have to comply.
Your continued assistance in this matter is appreciated
and will help the campus to continue minimizing its energy costs.
HAJ/lk
c: Bob Duringer
Facilities Services Procedures