The never-ending search for the right temperature
Have you ever felt like Goldilocks searching for the “just right” temperature in your office or a classroom in Mendoza? Imagine trying to find the perfect temperature for up to 2,000 people on any given day — in Indiana. It feels like an impossible task, especially in a nearly 30-year-old building with almost 200,000 square feet!
To help us figure it out, Mendoza embarked on a retro-commissioning project with our campus facilities partners and a third-party vendor, Emcor Havel, to focus on occupant comfort, improving energy efficiency and system functionality. This project began in early summer and is nearing completion.
Here is more information:
What is Retro-commissioning?
Retro-commissioning is a proactive approach to maintenance intended to improve the functionality of the building and the reliability of the heating and air conditioning equipment. This process seeks to restore the building’s heating and air conditioning system to its intended performance by testing each component within the system making any necessary repairs or calibrations. Once the system is fully functional, final tuning and optimization can occur, resulting in better temperature control and energy savings.
What has been identified?
In some cases, spaces were too hot (thermostats set incorrectly, broken controls, inconsistent airflow); in other cases, spaces were too cold (dampers were stuck open). The project involved recalibrating systems, adjusting schedules, and fine-tuning sensors to make our spaces operate within the University standards. Along the way, several unusual issues (IT closet ventilation issues, equipment failures) were identified during this project and will be corrected allowing for a more consistent experience.
What can we expect next?
Systems will continue to be recalibrated over the next several months, with a completion date of March 2025. Campus Utilities has identified a number of thermostats in Mendoza that are reaching their end of life and is actively working on a replacement plan that will move the facility to Direct Digital Control (DDC), which allows for better control and communication with the University’s systems. In the meantime, thermostats are being replaced as they fail or malfunction.
As a reminder, the University thermostat set-point guidelines, which were established in the Spring of 2009 to reduce energy consumption on campus, are as follows:
- For occupied spaces, sensors maintain each room’s temperature between 70° and 75° during the time of occupancy but allow fluctuations within this range to optimize energy efficiency by minimizing the use of mechanical systems.
- For vacant spaces, temperatures are allowed to fluctuate further for additional energy savings with the range expanding to 67° to 78°.
Temperatures will adjust accordingly when movement is detected. Please allow 15-30 minutes for the temperature of the space to adapt. If the thermostat in your office/classroom is not responding or cannot maintain the desired temperature, please email MendozaFixIt so that a work order can be created. If the issue persists, a Mendoza Facilities team member will follow up with Campus Controls to resolve the issue.
We appreciate all of the cooperation in helping us achieve our sustainability goals while creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We are committed to providing a comfortable environment that promotes well-being, drives productivity and creates a positive workplace culture.
A special thanks to our dedicated Facilities Team: Chad DeWeese, Ron Grisoli and Dana Pierce. Thank you for your hard work, attention to detail and the pride you take in keeping our facilities running smoothly.
Sincerely in Notre Dame,
Tracy
Tracy Biggs
Executive Director, College Operations & Finance