Spring Break
Springing forward with new energy plans
Jovanni Colisao
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Facilities Development and Operations department has a few projects in the works for the 2008 spring semester.
Carol Beebe, program manager of the facilities department, said the department will repair some steam and chilled water systems, which are old and leaking, especially in Tower Hall.
She also said the department is working on a couple of projects in the Boccardo Business Complex for energy conservation as well as in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.
"We're doing lighting retrofits," Beebe said. "The programs we're starting right now are being funded by PG&E."
She said that one would think brand new buildings would be up and running smoothly, but sometimes the library can be run a little bit more efficiently in terms of energy usage.
Beebe said some of the assumptions that were made about how the lighting would be used in the King Library were because lights were left on in places where they might not need to be left on.
Ray Morris, a junior justice studies major, thinks that turning off the lights would not scare away solicitors.
"When the lights are on, people feel safe, especially at night," Morris said.
Another student thinks that turning off the lights in the library would be a good idea.
"A lot of people turn their lights off at home when they leave, so why not do the same in the library?" said Shawn Wells, a freshman kinesiology major.
Beebe said she is not sure whether occupancy sensors within the book stacks will be implemented but that she would like to see it happen.
She said that when you're walking between bookshelves, people have plenty of light, but with occupancy sensors, the lights don't have to be on until people walk between the shelves.
She also mentioned that there is a lot of decorative lighting in the library, and the facilities department is hoping to put that lighting on separate circuits so if an important event is held, an exception will be made.
"There's a lot of small things that could possibly save a little bit of energy, but a little goes a long way," Beebe said.
She said the stack lighting may have some issues, especially in the children's area, which is where the facilities department is doing a reevaluation because of the layout of the library.
The lights around the perimeter of the library could be turned off when not in use, and turning off the lights in the library when it is closed would also help save energy, Beebe said.
Beebe said the main focus is to conserve as much energy as possible, especially when there are possible alternatives.
"Use energy when we need it," Beebe said, "and to not use energy we don't need it."
Carol Beebe, program manager of the facilities department, said the department will repair some steam and chilled water systems, which are old and leaking, especially in Tower Hall.
She also said the department is working on a couple of projects in the Boccardo Business Complex for energy conservation as well as in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.
"We're doing lighting retrofits," Beebe said. "The programs we're starting right now are being funded by PG&E."
She said that one would think brand new buildings would be up and running smoothly, but sometimes the library can be run a little bit more efficiently in terms of energy usage.
Beebe said some of the assumptions that were made about how the lighting would be used in the King Library were because lights were left on in places where they might not need to be left on.
Ray Morris, a junior justice studies major, thinks that turning off the lights would not scare away solicitors.
"When the lights are on, people feel safe, especially at night," Morris said.
Another student thinks that turning off the lights in the library would be a good idea.
"A lot of people turn their lights off at home when they leave, so why not do the same in the library?" said Shawn Wells, a freshman kinesiology major.
Beebe said she is not sure whether occupancy sensors within the book stacks will be implemented but that she would like to see it happen.
She said that when you're walking between bookshelves, people have plenty of light, but with occupancy sensors, the lights don't have to be on until people walk between the shelves.
She also mentioned that there is a lot of decorative lighting in the library, and the facilities department is hoping to put that lighting on separate circuits so if an important event is held, an exception will be made.
"There's a lot of small things that could possibly save a little bit of energy, but a little goes a long way," Beebe said.
She said the stack lighting may have some issues, especially in the children's area, which is where the facilities department is doing a reevaluation because of the layout of the library.
The lights around the perimeter of the library could be turned off when not in use, and turning off the lights in the library when it is closed would also help save energy, Beebe said.
Beebe said the main focus is to conserve as much energy as possible, especially when there are possible alternatives.
"Use energy when we need it," Beebe said, "and to not use energy we don't need it."
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