Unplugged: saving energy over the holidays

Every year during the holidays, Concordia’s Facilities Management takes several measures to reduce unnecessary expenses and the university’s overall energy consumption. It could be a reason that, in 2013-14, ours was named the most energy-efficient of major Quebec universities for the 17th consecutive year.

This year, from Wednesday, December 23, 2014, to Sunday, January 3, 2015, inclusively, all non-essential ventilation systems will be turned off.

There are some exceptions:

• The Henry F. Hall (H) Building’s ventilation systems will operate as per the normal weekend schedule, except for December 25 and January 1, when they will remain off both days.
• The Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building), John Molson (MB) Building, PERFORM Centre and Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics (GE Building) are self-responsive in terms of energy savings and will automatically adapt to client occupation.
• Ventilation systems will stay on in the Guy-De Maisonneuve (GM) Building, the Faubourg Tower (FB Building) and in some rental properties where other continued normal commercial operations dictate less restrictive energy conservation measures.

Temperatures will also be set back in buildings across both of Concordia’s campuses, except in the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex (SP Building), where laboratory experiments would be adversely affected.

All unnecessary lighting will be turned off.

Do you have concerns?

Any member of the Concordia community who has concerns that these measures may create a serious problem can either phone Stéphan Drolet, chief of operations with Facilities Management, at 514-848-2424, ext. 3781, send a fax to 514-848-4530, or send an email.

Facilities Management can also arrange for a different schedule of operations or help implement further suggested energy-conservation measures.

Please note that the residences in the Grey Nuns (GN) Building, Jesuit Residence (JR) and Hingston Hall (HA, HB and HC buildings) will not be affected by the energy-conservation measures.

Before leaving for the holidays, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to ensure they turn off all unnecessary equipment in offices, shops or laboratories, such as computers and their peripherals, photocopiers, any laboratory apparatuses and the lights, before closing the door.