Lowered temps in buildings prompt gripes

Several weeks after Penn decided to lower the temperatures in dozens of campus buildings, faculty and staff members are complaining that the new settings have created intolerable working conditions. In an effort to cut back on energy costs, the University announced a few weeks ago that it would lower temperatures in certain campus facilities. Faculty members and staff, who work in the Biomedical Research Building II, have voiced concerns over the recent temperature decrease. "We have had many complaints about the low temperatures in the building and in some laboratories it has been either 59 degrees or 63 degrees," said Doerte Smith, department manager for cell and developmental biology. "I think people are very uncomfortably adjusting -- it is not a great working situation." University officials say that skyrocketing gas prices in the past few months would potentially cost the University hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gas prices nationwide have been increasing with an unusually cold winter and limited gas supply. To cut costs, the University decided to drop the thermostats of approximately 20 to 30 buildings across campus to 65 degrees. The thermostats were previously set to 70 degrees. The settings have now been implemented in 15 to 25 of the University's buildings -- including the Biomedical Research Building II and Stellar-Chance Laboratories. According to Eric Weckel, a senior managing director in the School of Medicine, staff members have been complaining about the 65-degree setting in their building. "People got no warning and had no time to prepare for the temperature change," Weckel said. "They immediately responded negatively to the cold temperatures, and since then we have been trying to advocate on their behalf." Weckel, who works in the office of Facilities Planning and Operational Services, expressed concern over the 65-degree setting. In response, Facilities Services agreed to increase the temperature in BRB2 and Stellar-Chance laboratories to 68 degrees during daytime hours and to keep it at 65 degrees from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. But some report that temperatures still continue to drop below the new 68-degree setting. "It has gone down to 60 degrees at times," Mary Jo Pauxtis, a Manager of Administration and Finance, said. "On the days when it is that cold it has been uncomfortable." Vice President of Facilities Services Omar Blaik said he is aware of the problems in BRB II. "That is the building we have had the most calls coming from, and the one where we dispatched the most mechanics," Blaik said. Weckel said that Facilities Services has been responsive to the complaints. "They have been pretty good about coming out again and again where there are problematic areas," Weckel said. "In one case they found one reheat that wasn't working, and I have been informed that it has been corrected." However, some claimed that Facilities Services has not been helpful. "My office has been running at about 58 degrees on occasion, which is well below the set temperature," Director of Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health Jerome F. Strauss said. "When my business administrator reported it to facilities they said 'oh no, the building is at 65 and you are just experiencing windchill,'" he added. Pauxtis noted that her office has yet to be examined. "I have a note saying that someone would come over to check my sensor," Pauxtis said. "A mechanic came to the building, but he never checked out the sensor. When I saw him, he agreed he had never been in my office." However, Smith said Facilities Services has responded to the problem. "They have said they have responded to individual requests but I don't know how successful they have been," Smith noted. "Facilities administration has tried to respond to protect the research in the laboratories." Weckel says officials are trying to balance the energy cost cuts with the well being of the University's research. "We need to support the intent of the energy conservation initiative, and at the same time make sure it does not negatively affect the safety, health, and research endeavors of the University."