Employees asked to help reduce heat load

As the summer weather heats up, UW–Madison building managers are asking employees to take all possible measures to reduce building heat loads and chilled water consumption.

Faramarz Vakili, associate director of the Physical Plant, recommends that employees make use of natural light, switch off unnecessary lights and unplug non-essential office equipment.

“The recent wave of hot and humid weather has created a huge challenge for our chilled water plants to keep up with the cooling needs of the campus,” he says. “As a result, there are several buildings that are not getting any cooling and some others that are receiving reduced chilled water flow. You can help the situation by reducing the heat load in the buildings.”

Employees can take these steps:

• Set computers, monitors and printers to their energy-saving modes and turn them off when not using them.
• Limit use of devices that generate heat.
• Close blinds on south-facing windows.
• Make sure windows and exterior doors are closed in air-conditioned spaces.

During hot spells, the university places a priority on maintaining research and animal-care facilities and the UW Hospital and Clinics. If necessary, other UW buildings will be taken off the chilled-water system the university uses to cool its facilities.

An excessive heat warning continues for south central and southeast Wisconsin today. Employees who are absent from work because of the inclement weather normally must use available annual leave (vacation), available holidays, leave without pay, or when appropriate, accrued compensatory time to cover the absence or must arrange with the supervisor to make up the time, according to UW–Madison inclement weather policy.

“Our department is doing its best to minimize the negative impact of this emergency situation on all the buildings,” he says.

Energy updates will be sent through university building managers.