State University of New York at Geneseo
OP-T2-13: Timers for Temperature Control

We do regulate building temperatures based on a timer based on "peak" occupancy hours. The occupancy is based on the hours the particular building or space is being most utilized, such as classes or labs. The unoccupied times are mostly after hours when a limited amount of students or faculty are in the building. Both times have different temperature set points, (a set point is the desired numerical value you wish to achieve). During occupied mode, the devices supplying heat to the building consume enough energy to meet the most common comfortable surrounding air temperature for human beings, between 70 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. However, due to energy usage stated earlier, it is not necessary to maintain those occupied temperatures when there is little or no one in the building or space. This is when the unoccupied energy schedule kicks in. During this time the building control, we call it the Energy Management System (EMS), will "reset" the set point to a lower value, such as 58 df. The reasons are two fold: One, we do not want to freeze the building piping, such as water lines and spinkler heads. Two, we don't want to get too low where we would consume more energy to heat the spaces back up for the occupied time comfort levels than if we just let the space stay in a constant occupied temperature set point for 24 hours. A similar premise is utilized in the summer months, when excessive amounts of heat need to be removed from the space or building. During occupied times, the set point is lowered and raised during unoccupied times. Again, moderation comes into play. You don't want to have the temperature go so high while unoccupied, because it costs more dollars in energy to cool it back down for the next occupied cycle than it would to just keep the building at a constant occupied state. Off the top of my head, I'd say a good 90% of the academic buildings have at least some their indoor climates controlled by the EMS. The newer buildings obviously have a lot of control and the older ones in a more limited form. However, with each major renovation that is changing and for the better!