East Campus Living – Bluebell, Larkspur & Clover 300-400

Thermostats allow you to choose between heat to cool at your discretion. Limits have been placed on the thermostat to control costs and reduce energy waste.  The approved range is between 68 and 72 degrees.  For optimal operation of the system, make sure windows are closed (as they open from the top and the bottom) and exterior entrance doors are closed.  Due to the lack of a return air vent, students may experience a temperature difference between their room and the common areas of the residency.  This is normal.  To increase warmth in the rooms, leave your room door open (when present) to allow thermostat to sense the environment.  Do not use the “FAN” feature of the thermostat as this will effect the humidity within the apartment.  Furthermore it is high recommended not to use the “HOLD” feature as the system will produce warm and cool air at times you may not want it.

East Campus Living – Sunflower & Clover 100-200

Thermostats allow you to choose between heat and cool at your discretion. Though an electronic limit has not be installed on your thermostat at this time, the recommended range of operation is 68 and 72 degrees. Setting the thermostat lower than 68 degrees when the air conditioning is on will cause the unit to freeze and stop functioning correctly. Setting the thermostat above 72 degrees when the heat is on will cause an absorbent amount of energy use and may incur a surcharge to your student account (review contract terms and conditions for more information). Due to the lack of a return air vent, students may experience a temperature difference between their room and the common areas of the residency. This is normal. To increase warm in the rooms, leave your room door open (when present) to allow thermostat to sense the environment. Do not use the “FAN” feature of the thermostat as this will effect the humidity within the apartment.

West Campus Living – Pennyroyal, Marigold, Foxglove, Trillium

Thermostats allow you to choose between heat and cool at your discretion. Though an electronic limit has not be installed on your thermostat at this time, the recommended range of operation is 68 and 72 degrees. Setting the thermostat lower than 68 degrees when the air conditioning is on will cause the unit to freeze and stop functioning correctly. Setting the thermostat above 72 degrees when the heat is on will cause an absorbent amount of energy use and may incur a surcharge to your student account (review contract terms and conditions for more information). Due to the lack of a return air vent, students may experience a temperature difference between their room and the common areas of the residency. This is normal. To increase warm in the rooms, leave your room door open (when present) to allow thermostat to sense the environment. Do not use the “FAN” feature of the thermostat as this will effect the humidity within the apartment.

Founders’ Residence Hall

The heating and air conditioning system works off of a chiller system where hot or cold water flows through the pipes of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to heat and cool the building. During the winter months, the pipes of the chillers are filled with hot water. During the summer months, the opposite takes place with the pipes being filled with cold water. The thermostats in the student rooms operate the fan unit which increases or decreases the flow of air over these pipes with hot or cold water. This is how the rooms are heated and cooled. Once the air conditioning for the building is activated, the system is on. The same is true for the heat. There is not the ability to allow for individual room selection of heat or cold based on individual preference. This system, like many large facility central heating/cooling systems, is not set up for or designed to operate like an independent home unit where you can switch back and forth between hot and cold. To heat or cool a building the size of Founders Residence Hall takes about two (2) days. In that time, the outside temperature can be the same as what is desired inside the building and/or rooms.

Switching between building hot and cold water in the chillers is not a simple flip of the switch. There are preparation procedures and time involved. To avoid problems with the piping, the need for monitoring the system during switch over is necessary. Due to this type of system and the time of year when the weather can be warm during the day and cooler at night, we intentionally wait until the weather is more consistent around warmer or colder temperatures. Although there is not a set date used to determine when one of the other will be activated, we do use a good mixture of monitoring the weather forecast as reported by Weather.com for the area and obtaining feedback from the student leadership of the Residence Housing Associate (RHA). Advance planning and patience will be important for the student when the Fall and Spring weather changes take place.

Lincoln Residence Hall

The heating and air conditioning system works off of a chiller system where hot or cold water flows through the pipes of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)system to heat and cool the building. During the winter months, the pipes of the chillers are filled with hot water. During the summer months, the opposite takes place with the pipes being filled with cold water. The fan setting in the student rooms operate the fan unit which increases or decreases the speed of air flowing over these pipes with hot/cold water. The thermostat controls the water solenoid valve which allows the hot/cold water into the coils (pipes) in the room. This is how the rooms are heated and cooled. Once the air conditioning for the building is activated, the system is on. The same is true for the heat. There is not the ability to allow for individual room selection of heat or cold based on individual preference. This system, like many large facility central heating/cooling systems, is not set up for or designed to operate like an independent home unit where you can switch back and forth between hot and cold. To heat or cool a building the size of Lincoln Residence Hall takes about two (2) days. In that time, the outside temperature can be the same as what is desired inside the building and/or rooms.

Switching between building hot and cold water in the chillers is not a simple flip of the switch. There are preparation procedures and time involved. To avoid problems with the piping, the need for monitoring the system during switch over is necessary. Due to this type of system and the time of year when the weather can be warm during the day and cooler at night, we intentionally wait until the weather is more consistent around warmer or colder temperatures. Although there is not a set date used to determine when one of the other will be activated, we do use a good mixture of monitoring the weather forecast as reported by Weather.com for the area and obtaining feedback from the student leadership of the Residence Housing Associate (RHA). Advance planning and patience will be important for the student when the Fall and Spring weather changes take place.