(File Photo/Western Herald) Scott Keeler, environmental control technician, explains how the Building Automation Control Center is able to control the temperature in each classroom on WMU’s campus from a central location.
From a high-tech bridge-like control room, Scotty and Kirk prepped Western Michigan University for the holiday break.
No, this is not an episode of Star Trek.
While students enjoyed the first few days of holiday break, Environmental Control Person Scott Keeler and Energy Systems Specialist Kirk Dillery implemented several procedures designed to improve WMU over break and for the long run.
After the last day of finals, Maintenance Services employees began lowering the temperature of unused buildings to “extended closure” temperatures and shutting off campus boilers used to heat water.
Director of Maintenance Services Peter Strazdas said the reason for the holiday-closing procedure is three fold.
First, it conserves energy. Second, it gives the physical plant staff an opportunity to catch up on renovation projects they are unable to do while classes are in session. And finally, it allows them to do routine maintenance, such as fire alarm testing.
By setting thermostats between 55 and 60 degrees and shutting off boilers during holiday break, the university reduces annual spending by $250,000 to $400,000. The exact amount is contingent on several factors, Strazdas said. It is important to note that the money is not “saved” because it is budgeted for.
“Western Michigan University avoided consuming over 3,000,000 kilowatts of electricity … [and] over 12,000,000 pounds of steam,” Strazdas said.
“This year $484,000 of energy was avoided being used,
he said.
Many people are under the impression that the money is a surplus, but it isn’t, Strazdas said. Most of the money is reinvested back into the university to continue to fund more energy efficient methods that further reduce spending and Western’s carbon footprint.
“The best way to put it is we reinvest it,” he said. “It takes money to make money.”
Strazdas said that there was a push this year to get students, faculty and staff to help in conserving energy.
“This year we asked for extra effort by the faculty, staff and students to unplug electric devices and turn off as much as possible,” Strazdas said.
“We are conserving a lot of energy,” he said. “The students did this.”
This method also does its part to reduce WMU’s impact on the environment.
“It is the objective of President Dunn to be more sustainable and reduce [WMU’s] carbon footprint,” Strazdas said.
The holiday closure was regulated from a command center located in the WMU Physical Plant. From here, Dillery and Keeler can monitor and adjust the status of every building on campus via a sophisticated network of what Strazdas refers to as, “whizbang” machinery.
Dillery said that some people incorrectly assume that they shut off the heat and water when the university is closed. This is not the case. Water continued to flow to prevent pipes from freezing, and the buildings were still heated so there would be no danger of structural damage from the cold, he said.
While most buildings were effectively shut down during the break, some remained operational.
According to the Maintenance Services Building shutdown schedule, nine buildings, including Waldo Library and the Public Safety building, were labeled exempt from the closure.
A few residence halls remained open for those students, such as aviation and Seita Scholarship students, who remain on campus during the holidays.
A total of 11 other buildings including the Bernhard Center, Lawson Ice Arena, Gilmore Theatre Complex, Miller Auditorium and Student Recreation Center remained open for select, scheduled events.
The buildings were prepped for the events then returned to their hibernation afterwards.
Strazdas said that this year the days over the break were colder than in years past.
All the classrooms were brought back up to the “occupied” temperature of 70 degrees before classes began on Jan. 5.
