Facilities, Infrastructure and Risk Management (FIRM)

Facilities Management & Campus Services

TO:  Shutdown Group, Facility Coordinators

FROM:  Service Response Center

DATE:  December 6, 2022

SUBJECT: ACTION REQUESTED – Help Reduce Energy Waste

In an effort to identify and eliminate energy waste, we need your support and insight.  The upcoming stretch between semesters is four weeks when the campus population is lower or the university is officially closed for Winter Break.  Preparation for this transition period includes understanding how your department spaces will be used and taking action to reduce energy waste. 

As promised at last week's Facility Coordinator meeting, this is the first weekly reminder to help us reduce energy consumption (presentation from the FC Meeting attached).  In addition to the environmental benefits of a lower carbon footprint, we estimate the financial savings for full cooperation at $100,000 while also protecting the buildings from potential negative impacts.  Here is an outline of the current and future reminders:

Today's Reminder: We need your assistance with identifying where we can implement set backs.  For example, what spaces will be unoccupied or running on a modified schedule so we can turn the heat down (not OFF) with zero negative impacts.  For the Winter Break period of 12/23 to 1/2/2023 the university is officially closed and we will be guided by these general assumptions:

· In research or critical spaces, we will default to keeping systems ON and operating normally

· All non-critical areas, we will default to SPACES CLOSED and operating with an unoccupied setback temperature (not OFF)

While those assumptions reflect the overall status of campus during Winter Break, we really need your input to confirm your department's plans.  As a suggestion for how to provide feedback to  fixit@andrew.cmu.edu:

· For administrative buildings that will be unoccupied over Winter Break, please confirm you are CLOSED and let us know any exceptions that should remain ON and operating normally

· For research buildings and critical areas, just let us know which spaces can be set back.  For example, unoccupied offices, conference rooms, or public spaces

· If your department has occupancy plans that require a full explanation, or just want to make sure of the actions planned for each space, please provide full details

Please send an email to fixit@andrew.cmu.edu as soon as possible with information identifying where we can implement actions to set back over Winter Break.  Early planning helps everyone.  The FMCS Service Response Center or your Zone Manager will follow-up with any questions.

Week 2 Reminder will ask again to help identify spaces where we can set back.  Also, we'll send a checklist to distribute to your department and reminders on what normal daily services are suspended over Winter Break.  Plus some information about how the preliminary weather outlook  could modify our approach

Week 3 Reminder is the last message targeting energy waste and will resend the checklist to prepare/protect your spaces and any adjustments based on weather forecasts

As part of the Sustainability Initiative, we have a campus goal to reduce our environmental footprint.  Thank you for working with us to identify and target energy waste.  Please email fixit@andrew.cmu.edu with information identifying where we can implement actions to set back over Winter Break.