Heating
Oil for building heat is the most expensive utility cost of the student housing complex and a significant determinant of the cost of rent on campus. If it seems a room heater is not working very effectively, it may be that furniture pushed up against heating units are blocking air circulation and should be moved at least 6-12 inches from the heater.
Residents are asked to refrain from leaving windows open during winter months since heat systems have difficulty regulating temperature, pipes can freeze, and a large amount of energy is wasted. The internal door beyond the entryway to each apartment was designed to be closed to help create a temperature buffer between the main living area and the front door, where much heat is lost; this door should regularly be closed during the winter.
If a student has tried each of these suggestions and still finds that the heaters are not adequately warming the room, he/she should report the issue to a CA or to the Residential Maintenance Coordinator.
Energy Conservation
Promoting a more sustainable environment is a compelling reason for residents to make efforts to conserve energy, as is the desire to keep student housing costs from climbing. The cost to university housing for heating oil, water, and even garbage removal has increased monumentally in just the last few years. Students are strongly urged to do their part to help reduce unnecessary waste:
- Turning off lights and appliances when nobody is left in a room and unplugging miniature light strands at night or when no one is present to enjoy them helps to conserve electricity.
- Filling a kitchen sink with soapy water to wash dishes rather than leaving a continuous stream running while each dish is scrubbed individually saves a tremendous amount of water.
- Shorter showers and turning on the bathroom faucet only when it’s time to rinse and spit are also helpful.
- Turning down heaters when a room is empty for the day and leaving windows closed if the heat is turned on at all drastically reduce heat loss.
