As the weather warms up and fleece coats are retired for summer, consider that the temperature of campus buildings is impacted by many factors. The switch between heating and cooling systems is seamlessly controlled by thermostats located throughout the buildings. All thermostats on campus are set to provide heating when the temperature registered is 70 degrees or lower and to deliver cool air when the temperature is 75 degrees or above.
Items such as space heaters, coffee pots, computers, or any other item that generates heat, can cause cooling systems to turn on if placed too close to a thermostat. If an area is found to be too cool, check that one of these items is not near the thermostat and skewing its reading. If sunlight can reach the thermostat, this also can cause the cooling system to turn on unnecessarily, so keep window shades closed near thermostats.
One thermostat controls a large area of a given building, even if it is located in a single office. Increases in temperature for one space will impact many users, so please be mindful of coworkers’ comfort when working near a thermostat.
In a measure to reduce costs and boost campus sustainability efforts, the heating system is turned off for the summer session. This usually occurs in mid-May after the weather forecast consistently calls for seasonably appropriate daytime temperatures. In those few weeks of late spring, buildings may be cold in the morning. Consider having an extra layer on hand until the temperature increases throughout the day.
If a thermostat is not functioning properly, please contact Facilities and Maintenance at (208) 426-1409 to have it checked.