Fan shutoffs are unfair to University workers

TO THE EDITOR:

The Energy Monitoring and Control System — EMCS — staff saves energy by cycling HVAC — heating ventilation and air conditioning — system fans off at night and on weekends.

Night shutdown programs are in place in 24 buildings across campus.

And these programs generate annual savings of approximately $106000. 

Now this sounds great that the University is saving money.

But the sad part is that you have 24 buildings with people working inside of them at night cleaning the building of trash left by the daytime personal without air conditioning and ventilation. 

Some of the chemicals used require proper ventilation.

Plus it would seem only humane to allow the nighttime works the same privileges as the daytime workers. 

I am glad that the system is saving money — kudos — on that but maybe it could be set to cycle on every hour and then off for 45 minutes and so on. 

This would still save money and allow the workers the small privilege of having some type of ventilation and air conditioning in the summertime. 

Plain and simple it is hot in these buildings.

Would you want to be in your home with no air conditioning when it is 95 degrees outside? 

I think not! 

Savings of approximately $106"000 sounds great until you ask the worker who may or may not complain about the conditions what it feels like to work in one of the buildings at night.  

Their answer would likely be ""hot enough to make Chapel Hill tar.""


Carlos Jackson
Building Environmental Technician