Summer temperature change hopes for savings

Students, faculty and staff felt a difference in the temperature on campus as administration authorized a four-degree change in all buildings around campus.”Energy prices have continued to sky rocket. Whatever we can do to cut utility costs is a great help to the University and students,” stated Richard Gentry, Physical Plant Director. By adjusting the temperature from 73 degrees to 77 degrees, the university can save about 30,000 dollars stated Dr. Dan Jones, Provost. “I think this is part of a general effort for people to think green and to make everyone aware that we need to find opportunities to save energy wherever we can,” Jones said.If an effort to save money and think green, the University has asked staff to turn off lights and computers when they are not in use. In addition, notices have been placed on light switches to remind those on campus to save energy.Gentry explained that there have been positive and negative responses to the temperature change, “we had many comments that were glad that we increased the temperatures because they were often too cold. We have also had some comments that stated that people were too hot. We looked at each location and adjusted [the temperature] accordingly.””Our office is hot,” stated Laura Cortez, Director of the Student Center, “we have a lot of movement with students and projects given as well as many entry points into the building allows for plenty of energy to be wasted.””It interferes with classes and concentration. You feel sleepy and distracted,” stated Daniel Garcia, a student and Student Center employee. Garcia further stated that the temperature should be adjusted for students since they pay for their tuition.The program will end once the fall semester begins and a survey will be conducted in order to find out how those on campus reacted to the change stated Jones. Once administrators determine how much money and energy, it will be decided if the program will continue for the following summers.”The main thing to keep in mind is that we want to make these decisions as a university and make sure the students, facility, and staff have an opportunity to voice their opinion. If it turns out to be very unpopular then we’ll find other ways to try to achieve the same goal,” said Jones.