10/04/2022
By Melanie Ellis

Facilities Management would like to share this informational notice with the campus community regarding building temperatures during the fall season. At this time of year, as New England transitions from summer to fall, we may experience wide-ranging weather and temperatures ranging from the 30s to the 80s. In the Facilities Management/HVAC industry this is referred to as the “Shoulder Season.”

Most buildings on campus are equipped to be in either heating or cooling mode, but not both modes simultaneously. For many buildings, changing from cooling to heating mode is not just as simple as a ‘flick of a switch’. To change systems to accommodate weather can take multiple days for just one building. Converting all buildings on campus takes two to three weeks and is not easily reversible. Because of this, Facilities Management closely monitors temperature forecasts and tries to stay ahead of prolonged temperature changes. We want the campus community to understand that, during these unpredictable days, indoor temperatures may drift beyond established guidelines. Statistics show there are typically several isolated days within the heating season that may require cooling and conversely, the same is true for heat required in the cooling season. If the weather is forecasted to experience a severe, elongated period of temperature swing, when reasonable, building systems will be reverted as quickly as possible.

Our current practice is to target mid-October as the switch over completion date for changing system modes from heating to cooling. This practice is consistent with the industry standard throughout New England. When determining the exact date of switch over for each building, Facilities Management considers prevailing weather, building HVAC capabilities, type of system controls and building usage.

When Facilities Management receives calls related to building temperature during the shoulder season, we first ensure systems are functioning properly. We ask you to keep in mind that building system controls differ from the controls in your home, and do not allow us to shut down air conditioning or switch building systems to heat on the first cool day of fall. To ensure your comfort during days where there are temperature swings, planning attire for the daily weather conditions can help you minimize the effects of these temperature challenges.

We hope this information will give the campus community a better understanding of how our systems work and the challenges we face during the Shoulder Season here in New England.

We apologize for any inconveniences or short uncomfortable periods this may cause.