Fall brings unpredictable weather with its colored leaves, which presents a challenge for the Facilities Operations division.

According to Alan Daeke, the director of Utilities and Engineering Services, as the buildings on campus represent a wide range of ages, they sport a wide variety of temperature control technologies.

“Most buildings on campus have thermostats that automatically control temperature in the space,” he said. “Some older buildings, and buildings that have multiple smaller systems, are not automatic, but are in either heating mode or cooling mode.”

These differences in amount of control can pose problems for Facilities Operations — the systems, which are not automatic, cause the most discomfort, particularly because the thermostat cannot react to current conditions.  

According to Daeke, this becomes a problem, especially during the change of seasons.

“The [older systems] can potentially cause uncomfortable conditions when we have cool mornings and then warm afternoons, which are common of fall weather,” Daeke said.

Students recognize the difference. Buildings such as Harrelson Hall, built in 1960, are known for their range of unusual temperatures.

Allison Nolker, a freshman in biological sciences, has a math class in Harrelson and often finds the room uncomfrotable.

“My math class is usually hot,” she said. “There’s a huge number of people in that tiny little room.”

Emily Darr, a freshman in environmental engineering, had the reverse experience in the same building.

“I always feel cold,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s because I am sitting under a vent or something.”

Resetting these older temperature control systems is generally something that occurs once, adding another layer of complexity to operating the more aged thermostats.

“Maintenance and Operations staff typically meet with the building liaisons and agree upon a date to switch the air condition system from cooling to heating in the fall,” said Daeke, “and vice versa from heating to cooling in the spring.”

Unlike the hard and fast distinctions of the older systems, the newer automatic thermostats are more able to respond to real-time conditions and do not require such difficult or drastic measures to achieve comfort.

“The thermostat automatically switches the system between heating and cooling to meet the thermostat set point,” Daeke said. “Some of the systems have older pneumatic thermostats, and some have newer digital thermostats.”

The digital systems also boast a second advantage over their counterparts.

“Digital thermostats allow Facilities to schedule ‘unoccupied’ times, when the air conditioning system will operate at reduced capacity to save energy,” he said. “This is typically done at night, over weekends and over long breaks on campus, just like you do with you home thermostat when you are not there.”

As construction continues across campus, the Facilities Operations is looking to update older systems and simplify the issues of orchestrating comfortable temperatures in the buildings while increasing the efficiency of heating and cooling buildings.

“As buildings are renovated, they are brought up to current codes with the most efficient systems possible,” Daeke said. “[Non-automatic] systems are typically replaced with automatic air conditioning systems.”