2008 Woodie Awards
Hot in hurr: UNH turns up the heat
Gounley, Thomas
Issue date: 10/14/08 Section: News
Different buildings on campus have different heating control systems, which are explained on the Energy Office's website. Some buildings such as Nesmith and McConnell have individual room controls. This system is the most expensive to install, but each room has a thermostat to control its temperature, offering the most comfort.
Another system used is zone control. "With zone control, one control device (thermostat, wall sensor or heater-mounted control) determines the amount of heat provided to several rooms within a zone," according to the website. The room with the control is often the most comfortable, and the other rooms in the zone receive heat based on the other room. Hewitt Hall is an example of a building with zone control.
The final system, building control, is the least expensive to install but offers the least amount of control. The website description for this system reads, "There are no individual control devices in rooms within the building.
The entire building receives heat based on the outdoor air temperature." The device controlling the building's temperature is set to keep the coldest room warm, which can overheat other rooms in the building. Pettee Hall and many residence halls use building control.
The latter two systems demonstrate why students and faculty shouldn't just open a window if they find their dorm room or office too warm in the winter.
"Don't open your window, because there's a trickle down effect to the next room," O'Keefe warned.
In buildings with zone or building control, the system could automatically send more heat to this room to make up for the temperature drop, thus overheating rooms nearby.
Instead of opening a window, calling the Energy Department is the best choice, since the problem may be mechanical. The number for the call center is 862-1497.
Recently built or renovated buildings have been constructed in order to become more energy-efficient in terms of heating. O'Keefe said the most important issue is they're "designed properly." This means tightly insulated buildings with energy-efficient windows and doors.
UNH's Office of Sustainability (UOS) is working to lower heating costs as part of their campus-wide goal of conserving energy.
"Through our campus-wide Energy Task Force, the university is developing a climate action plan that will contain a number of strategies for cutting our emissions and energy costs," Sara Cleaves, associate director of the UOS said. "One example of this in action today is the annual Student Energy Waste Watch Challenge in which residence halls and apartments on campus compete to see which can lower its energy use by the greatest amount."
Another system used is zone control. "With zone control, one control device (thermostat, wall sensor or heater-mounted control) determines the amount of heat provided to several rooms within a zone," according to the website. The room with the control is often the most comfortable, and the other rooms in the zone receive heat based on the other room. Hewitt Hall is an example of a building with zone control.
The final system, building control, is the least expensive to install but offers the least amount of control. The website description for this system reads, "There are no individual control devices in rooms within the building.
The entire building receives heat based on the outdoor air temperature." The device controlling the building's temperature is set to keep the coldest room warm, which can overheat other rooms in the building. Pettee Hall and many residence halls use building control.
The latter two systems demonstrate why students and faculty shouldn't just open a window if they find their dorm room or office too warm in the winter.
"Don't open your window, because there's a trickle down effect to the next room," O'Keefe warned.
In buildings with zone or building control, the system could automatically send more heat to this room to make up for the temperature drop, thus overheating rooms nearby.
Instead of opening a window, calling the Energy Department is the best choice, since the problem may be mechanical. The number for the call center is 862-1497.
Recently built or renovated buildings have been constructed in order to become more energy-efficient in terms of heating. O'Keefe said the most important issue is they're "designed properly." This means tightly insulated buildings with energy-efficient windows and doors.
UNH's Office of Sustainability (UOS) is working to lower heating costs as part of their campus-wide goal of conserving energy.
"Through our campus-wide Energy Task Force, the university is developing a climate action plan that will contain a number of strategies for cutting our emissions and energy costs," Sara Cleaves, associate director of the UOS said. "One example of this in action today is the annual Student Energy Waste Watch Challenge in which residence halls and apartments on campus compete to see which can lower its energy use by the greatest amount."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Soloman02
Harrison
posted 10/15/08 @ 4:32 PM EST
Quote:
"Energy Department has predicted a 23 percent rise in the cost of heating bills for households that heat their homes with oil"
Good thing we switched to pellets for this winter. (Continued…)
Post a Comment