As we enter into the cooler seasons of the year, West Texas weather fluctuates daily. The design of our campus heating system is such, that once it is “on,” it needs to stay on during the entire heating season. Therefore, we will wait to turn on the heating system until the overnight temperatures are forecast to reach below freezing or the daytime temperatures stay continually below 64 degrees. It will take at least 24 hrs. to reach maximum operating conditions.
This process helps prevent excessive cost to the University and premature wear and tear on the boilers and piping system. The cost to run the heating system can be anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 per day, depending on natural gas prices.
If you feel that your office or area is too cold or warm, please do not hesitate to call Facilities Management at x2665 to generate a work order. Even though the heating/cooling system is not on, there may be steps that Facilities can take to improve your comfort level.