Bob Harper

Bob Harper, the  Manager of Central Heating plant and HVAC Services, just clued me in on a great energy web site. I had been attempting to convert oil and natural gas into BTU’s and provide greenhouse gas emissions per-thousand square feet (yeah, I know!!) for the college. He told me not to be insulted but directed me to http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/index.html .  What a great site for explaining energy in simple and easy terms.

So the next time you need to know where natural gas comes from, what states produce oil or if you’re just in the mood for energy sudoku, check out this site.

While not a fully mature roof there’s still plenty to see. It can be seen anytime from the 3rd floor hallway outside the Career Development Office or attend one of our tours scheduled for this summer.

Brought to you by the San Francisco Bike Coalition, www.sfbike.org

Answers to commonly asked questions:

What’s Waving Wednesday?

It’s a simple concept! It’s Wednesday and you’re riding a bicycle. You see someone else on a bicycle. You wave to them. They wave to you.

Does it cost anything to particiapte in Waving Wednesday?

Waving Wednesday only costs about 3 calories per wave.

If I wave on Wednesdays, can I still wave on other days?

Waving to promote cameraderie among cyclists is always encouraged.

What qualifies as a wave?

A wave ‘counts’ when you move your hand back and forth at least 3 times. Nodding or saluting do not count-those salutations can find their own darn days.

        Do I really have to do this?

        Yes, you have to.

The Committee for Environmental Responsibility and The Center for Peace and Global Citizenship is sponsoring a “Go By Bike” workshop series, encouraging community members to bike more. For more information contact ckent@haverford.edu or www.haverford.edu/staff/gobybike/ 

Every Haverford employee who remembers to turn off their computer at the end of the work day, saves the College .56 cents per day in energy costs.  If an employee works 200 days per year that amounts to a savings of $112 in energy costs per year.

If all 186 administrative computers were turned off at the end of the work day,  the total savings in energy costs each year would come to $20, 832.

Add in the weekend and the savings are even bigger. Turning off  all 186 administrative computers for the weekend would save the College $50,294 in energy costs each year.

New signs are going up in the Koshland Integrated Natural Sciences Center aimed at alerting students, faculty and staff to an easy way to help the College save energy, money–and the planet.  “Turn off computers before leaving,” posters were created by visiting assistant professor of physics Anna Sajina, and Bruce Boyes, the KINSC’s research machinist, who are both members of the Committee on Environmental Responsibility.

“We have many computers right here in the KINSC,” says Boyes, “and I’m sure there are more locations on campus  where this message could be posted.”

Want a few to post in your campus building as a friendly green reminder?  email bboyes@haverford.edu

In response to concerns about computer energy consumption, Facilities Management along with Administrative Computing have devised an energy conservation plan directed specifically at computers.

Administrative Computing is currently assembling a list of administrative and academic computers, their model types and typically how much energy they consume. These numbers will be directed to Facilities Management where a calculation of how much energy is used will be converted into a dollar amount.

A list of administrative computers along with their back-up nights will be distributed to the Energy Work Study students. All administration will be asked to turn off computers along with printers, scanners, speakers etc., except for their back-up night. If an employee leaves a computer on, a “friendly reminder” will be left encouraging the user to be more energy aware.

Because of sensitive information on academic and some administrative computers, we will not ask for these computers to be shut down. Directions on how to put computers in a low power state and request that printers and scanners be shut down will be distributed. Students will not enter faculty or sensitive administrative offices for any reason.

Thank you for support and participation in this matter.

As we face this challenge, we are calling upon our campus community to support this campus initiative by implementing simple changes in energy utilization behaviors that can positively affect operating costs and the environment while relieving some pressure on institutional resources.   We have identified four major awareness components of this program below.
Wintertime Energy Conservation Guidelines

Adjust Office and Building Temperatures to 68 Degrees Fahrenheit

Buildings that have centralized temperature controls will be set at a temperature of 68 degrees.   This includes administrative, academic, residence and athletic facilities.

• In buildings and rooms with thermostats that are not centrally controlled, individual occupants should manually set the temperature to 68 degrees
• Building occupants are encouraged to remove all items that block heating registers, radiators and baseboard radiation strips to allow proper heating distribution and air circulation to each space.
• The campus community is encouraged to close all exterior windows and doors in order to minimize heat loss from buildings.   Doors should not be propped open.  Operations staff members are requested to make sure that roll-up overhead doors remain closed in loading and receiving areas while not in use

Minimize Use of Space Heaters

• It is estimated that there are many space heaters on campus.
• Building occupants are encouraged to minimize the use of electric space heaters

Summertime Energy Conservation Guidelines

Adjust Office and Building Temperatures to 77 Degrees Fahrenheit

• Buildings that have centralized temperature controls will be set at a temperature of 76 degrees his includes administrative, academic, residential and athletic facilities.
• In buildings and rooms with thermostats that are not centrally controlled, individual occupants should manually set the temperature to 76 degrees.
• Building occupants are encouraged to remove all items that block cooling and return registers to allow proper cooling distribution and air circulation to each space.
• The campus community is encouraged to close all exterior windows and doors in order to minimize the loss of cooled air from building.   Doors should not be proper open.

Adopt a 10-Minute Lighting Guideline

• Building occupants are requested to adopt a “10-Minute Lighting Guideline” and turn off lights if you are leaving a room for more than 10 minutes.
• •Additionally, building occupants are also requested to turn off lights in areas with adequate natural lighting and consider using task lighting instead of overhead lights in areas without natural daylight.

Use of Office Equipment

• The campus community is asked to turn off all equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers, scanners, copiers, and other office/lab equipment, when not in use for extended periods of time.   This is especially critical during unoccupied evening, overnight and weekend periods.
• All faculty, students and staff are requested not to use screen savers on their computers.   Instead, all users should set computers to sleep mode.
• The campus community is encouraged to reduce the number of electrical appliances in use by consolidating where possible (coffee pots, microwaves, refrigerators) and turning them off when not in use.

Thank you for your support and continued dedication in helping the College to succeed in this critical effort.

Energy Saving Tips

Students, faculty and staff can help the energy conservation effort by following these tips:

Computers:
Screen savers do not save energy but giving your computer a nap does.   Enable power management features so your computer monitor and hard drive will go into a low power (blank screen) “sleep mode” when not actively 8in use.

Keep all computer equipment off unless in use – especially at night and on weekends.

Copiers & Printers:
Enable power management features on laser printers and/or turn off laser printers when not actively printing.

• Think before you print!  Print and copy as little as possible.
• When you must print, do it double-sided.
• Edit on screen, not on paper.
• Save to disk instead of printing on paper.
• Use e-mail to minimize paper use and don’t routinely print e-mails.
• Send and store documents electronically instead of on paper.
• Designate a box for scrap paper and use it for printing all drafts or unofficial documents.
• Circulate documents instead of making an individual copy for everyone.
• Reuse envelopes by placing a new label over the old address.

Heating and Cooling:

• Dress appropriately to the season and keep thermostats set at 68 degrees.
• During the heating season, open blinds, drapes and curtains to let sun in.   If cloudy, close them to keep the heat in especially at night.
• During the cooling season close blinds, drapes and curtains to block direct sun.
• Use hot water sparingly.

Lights:

• Turn off unused or unneeded lights.
• Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting whenever possible.
• Try task lighting and reduce overhead lighting.
• If you have a desk lamp, make sure it uses a fluorescent bulb.
• Don’t use table lamps unless illumination from the lamps is actually needed.
• “10 Minute Rule” Please use the 10 min. rule:  If you do not plan to be in your room, or office for more then ten mins. Turn off your lights

Windows and Doors:

• Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air conditioned areas
• Close vestibule doors when propped open.
• Keep rollup doors closed in shipping/receiving area closed when not in use.

Report Energy Waste – Please report instances of energy waste to the Office of Facilities Management (610-896-1100).

Guidelines for Electric Space Heaters
The first phase of the HC Energy Conservation Program is to garner support from the campus community by creating greater awareness, and identifying simple ways in which the campus can contribute.  Minimizing the use of space heaters was identified as a key component to the energy conservation initiative.  Space heathers are a very costly means of heating, therefore, we should optimize their utilization by using them as a temporary solution, pending the repair or adjustment of a building’s main heating system.

In addition to the cost of operation, space heathers can also represent potential fire hazards.  Therefore, we should also be mindful of the safety guidelines related to space heater use.

Safety Guidelines for Space Heaters:

• No liquid fueled space heaters (e.g., kerosene heaters) are to be used in any College building.
• Heaters must meet the following characteristics:
• Have UL approval
• Have heating elements that are protected from contact
• Be tilt-proof (when tipped over the heater turns off)
• Have adjustable heating controls
• Three feet of clearance is required around all space heaters.  NOTHING may be placed on, over, above, or around a space heater.
• Space heaters are only used while under direct supervision.
• When not in use, the space heater shall be unplugged from the wall electric outlet.
• Extension cords are not to be used with space heaters
• Space heaters may not be tipped over or positioned in any way other than intended.
• The user should inspect the space heater daily for cord cracks, hot spots, or signs of wear.  Any deficiencies shall be reported to the Office of Facilities Management, ext. 1096.
• For additional information on safe space heater usage, please contact the Office of Safety and Security at extension 1111

What if I already have a space heater?
Electric space heaters should be used in areas where a space temperature of 68 degrees is unattainable:

• Privately owned space heaters should be taken home by the owners.
• All College-owned space heaters that are currently in buildings on campus should be unplugged and placed in storage in each department/work area.   If no space exists in the department or work area, please alert Facilities, who will store the device.
• If you believe your space heater does not meet the aforementioned Safety Guidelines for Space Heaters, it should be removed from use completely.

Are You Cold?
In efforts to conserve energy the College is asking that temperatures be maintained at 68 degrees.   Please confirm the following before seeking additional assistance:

• Area rugs or carpet are not pushed under baseboard heating strips
• Furniture is at least six inches away from any baseboard heat unit.
• Windows and doors are closed.
• If located within your area, please confirm that the thermostat is set at 68 degrees.

If you are still cold and you believe your office is colder than 68 degrees, please contact your department unit head or director (or his/her representative).  In a residence hall, residents should contact the ORCD Senior Staff member on duty.   If required, they will place a call for a heating Work Order to the Office of Facilities Management at ext. 1351.   The Office of Facilities Management will respond and follow their procedures for performing a temperature evaluation.   If possible, Facilities Management will attempt to adjust the temperature using the building’s heating system.

If it is determined that the temperature cannot be maintained using the building heating system, the College may, on a case by case basis, approve temporary use of space heaters.

The use of space heaters in academic, administrative, and athletic building will also require prior approval of the department’s unit head or director.   The use of space heaters in residential building will also require prior approval by the Senior Staff member on duty.   The department unit head or director (or his/her representative) and residence hall Senior Staff members on duty are responsible for compliance with the space heater guidelines in their respective areas of responsibility.

When no longer required all space heaters in academic, administrative, and athletic buildings shall be returned to the unit head or director (or his/her representative).   When no longer required, all space heaters in residential buildings shall be returned to Senior Staff member on duty.

Are you Too Warm?

Sometimes adjustments are needed to a building’s heating system.  If you believe your office is too warm, please contact the Office of Facilities Management at extension 1096.  In a residence hall, residents should contact the ORCD Senior Staff member on duty.   If required, they will place a call for a heating work Order to the Office of Facilities Management at extension 1096.

In efforts to conserve energy, please remember:

• Heating and cooling systems should not be used simultaneously.
• Opening windows and doors is a waste of energy.   The heating system will continue to operate and try to maintain the thermostat set point temperature.

The modern day green roof uses modern technology such as root barriers, drainage systems and lightweight growing media which allows healthy growing environments at much lighter weights. Lightweight green roofs allow systems to be installed on roofs which normally would not be able to sustain heavy loads, as is the case with Stokes Hall. While some roofs can withstand weights up to 60+ lbs per square foot, Stokes has only been rated for 21 lbs fully saturated.

The system selected for Stokes Hall is an Aromatic Garden “Roofmeadow” system. Because the “soil” or growing media is only 3-4” thick, drought tolerant plants were selected, namely sedums. Sedums will withstand long periods of drought and won’t need supplemental irrigation.

The photograph to the right is Friends Center at 15th and Cherry streets in Philadelphia.  Their system, which is the same as ours, is two years old. This roof is in full bloom.*

Green roofs provide many ecological, aesthetic, and financial benefits, including:

• Controlling stormwater runoff, erosion, and pollution
• Improving water quality
• Mitigating urban heat-island effects, cooling and cleaning the air
• More than doubling the service life of the roof, reducing both costs and landfill
• Conserving energy
• Reducing sound reflection and transmission
• Creating wildlife habitat
• Improving the aesthetic environment in both work and home settings.

*Courtesy of Nate Johnson and Roofscapes Inc.

Want to know more about Haverford College’s geothermal wells? Ask the green squirrel.