Too Cold?

Are you too cold in your residence hall? Is your room always 68 degrees when you set it to 72? If this is the case, you might have a HVAC problem. The Facilities Division can help with this. Simply enter a work request at http://workreq.neu.edu or call Facilities Customer Service at (617) 373-2754.

A To Do List for The Winter Break

The Housing Services Committee wants to give you a quick "To Do" list before you head off for vacation, the Holidays, or just a break:

• Secure Valuables: Thieves love the Holiday season because people are away and it ends up being easier for them to commit theft. Take valuables with you, lock them up, or otherwise secure them.
• Close & Lock Windows: Not only does securing your windows help deter theft, but it also ensures that if we have a cold snap you won't end up with a frozen pipe bursting and soaking your room.
• Turn Down The Thermostat: Set your thermostat as low as it can go. No one will be around, so no one will be there to feel cold. You'll also save Northeastern money, which means there won't be as big a need to raise housing or tuition next year.
• Throw out the Trash: Throw your trash out before you go to help avoid pests and foul odors.
• Clean out the Fridge: Get rid of anything that will expire over break. Also, if you clear out your entire fridge you may be able to unplug it saving more energy.
• Turn Off / Unplug Electronics: Since you won't be around to use it, there's no need to leave it on or running. You'll save energy, save money, and help your fellow students avoid higher costs.

Heater Spitting Water?

Is the heating unit in your residence hall room spitting water out, dripping water, or leaking excessive amounts of steam? If so, contact the Facilities division at 617.373.2754 or enter a work request online. Facilities will do their best to help fix the problem. You can also contact Facilities if the temperature ends up being too hot or too cold in your room and you don't have a control on the wall.

Temperature Maximums

Earlier in the week we blogged about residence hall heating. We forgot to mention that the maximum setpoint in electronically controlled residence halls is 72-degrees Fahrenheit. If your thermostat won't go up to 72-degrees, then you can submit a work order to Facilities online or by calling (617) 373-2754.

While you do have the ability to set a temperature of 72-degrees, remember that using a lower temperature saves energy. It's especially a good idea to lower the thermostat if you're going to be away for the weekend, or leaving for winter break, or even if you're just going to be at co-op for most of the day. When we help save energy, not only are we helping the environment, but we are also saving our institution money which helps to curb housing cost increases.

Heating Issues

With cooler weather around Boston these days, heat is keeping us warm in the residence halls -- but for some students, it's just too warm! If your heat, in an electronically controlled building (eg. Davenport A, West Campus C, West Campus G) won't go down to 68-degrees, put a work order into Facilities.

In residence halls without electronically controlled heat, if the temperature is too warm, you can adjust it or ask Facilities to do so by entering a work order or calling (617) 373-2754.

68˚F

68˚F is a special temperature: the lowest you should be able to set the temperature control in a centrally air conditioned building on campus. This value is known as the "minimum setpoint" of the thermostats, and if the thermostat is working properly, you can't set the temperature below 68˚F. This is, in part, due to energy reasons related to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment that President Joseph E. Aoun signed.

If your thermostat goes below 68˚F you have more freedom in temperature control than you should have. If your thermostat does not go down to 68˚F (for example: it only goes down to 70˚F) then call Facilities at 617-373-2754, enter a Work Order online, or send us an e-mail and include your room number, building, and phone number and we'll get the problem fixed for you.

It's Way Too Hot

The City of Boston has officially been in a heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 90-degrees for four straight days. In fact, we're beyond a heat wave because a heat wave only requires three days of temperatures in excess of 90-degrees. Typically when it gets hot, we in the Housing Services Committee end up receiving complaints from students about air conditioners not cooling well. But this heat wave, not a single student has called, e-mailed, or come to the Resident Student Association with complaints about the air conditioning in their residence hall. We have had some students complain about non-central air buildings, and the high price of air conditioner rentals. In response to those complaints an investigation was launched and the results compiled in a report.

I would like to think that the lack of complaints during this heat wave is an indication that the air conditioners are all working fine and that the HVAC team at Facilities has done a great job with maintenance and ensuring that air conditioners are working fine. Thankfully, temperatures will drop tomorrow, but it'll still be hot enough to run the air conditioner.