Today at 10 a.m., Facilities Services will conduct a one-hour reduction of energy demand to test the university’s ability to respond to emergency demand response events.
As noted last week and yesterday in The Daily, the university participates in a voluntary electricity-reduction program to help prevent massive electrical shutdowns, or “blackouts,” across the regional electric grid.
During the power reduction, Facilities Services requests members of the university community reduce demand by:
- Turning off lights or window air conditioners in unoccupied spaces,
- Turning off desk lamps, or turning on desk lamps and turning off overhead lights,
- Running laptop computers on battery power, and turning off non-essential technology such as external monitors,
- Unplugging all chargers that are not in use (for example: cell phones, laptops, iPads, etc.),
- Powering down computers, copiers and other electronic devices during lunch, and shutting off power strips.
Facilities Services will adjust select HVAC systems to consume less energy. Room temperatures may vary slightly but should return to normal soon after the test. No changes will be made to normal ventilation in laboratory buildings.
Normal operations can resume after the test is complete at 11 a.m.