With temperatures expected to near 100 degrees in the Nashville area, the Vanderbilt University Facilities Department is asking faculty, staff and students to help reduce their energy consumption over the coming weeks.
Nashville Electric Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority have requested that Middle Tennessee residents voluntarily reduce their electrical consumption during the heat wave. University Facilities will be managing central temperature controls, where possible, to moderate indoor thermostats between 76–78 degrees and will employ other operational activities to minimize electrical use on campus.
Vanderbilt community members can do the following—on campus and at home—to help:
- Moderate thermostat settings to 76–78 degrees. Where not centrally controlled, or in buildings with local thermostats, remember to adjust thermostats in spaces unoccupied during the summer. Adjust them more when you leave for the day or weekend.
- Dress for the hot weather so you will be comfortable in more moderate temperatures.
- Close window shades or blinds during the hottest part of the day to keep heat out and cool air in.
- Turn off lights in your workspace when you leave, even if only for a short period of time. It will save energy if you are gone for more than 30 seconds.
- Turn off lights to common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, break rooms, classrooms and conference rooms when not in use and especially before leaving for the day. Many of these spaces sit empty most of the day.
- Turn off office equipment. If allowed in your area, computers, printers, copiers and scanners can be turned off when you leave for the day or at the end of your work shift if they will not be used again for several hours. Otherwise, activate sleep modes and energy-saving settings.
- Close fume hood sashes when not in use. If you work in a laboratory space with chemical fume hoods, please close sashes on hoods that are not being used, if possible. A single fume hood running 24 hours can use as much energy as a single-family home uses in a year.
If your office or area seems unusually cold or hot or you have trouble regulating the temperature, please call VU Plant Operations at 4-9675 (on campus) or 615-343-9675 (off campus), or submit a ticket via the ReADY portal.