Summer Energy Savings Initiative
A strategic opportunity to save energy, particularly during evening hours and on weekends when many classroom buildings are unoccupied
Utility costs are among NC State’s largest ongoing expenses. The Summer Energy Savings Initiative (SESI) offers a smart opportunity to conserve energy, especially during evenings and weekends when many classroom buildings are less active.
During the Summer I and Summer II sessions, classroom buildings across campus are being reviewed for opportunities to run more efficiently without affecting comfort or instruction.
After the last scheduled class or event each day (according to University Registrar schedules), building systems will shift into Eco Mode, a lighter, energy-conscious setting that reduces air conditioning use in areas that aren’t in use. Critical spaces like research labs are excluded and will continue operating as usual.
While in Eco Mode, room temperatures may gently rise, up to 80ºF, during evening and weekend hours. These smart comfort settings are temporary and automatically reset each morning to ensure spaces are back to normal before the building reopens.
Some classrooms with advanced building controls already adjust temperatures automatically based on room schedules to keep comfort and efficiency in balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are labs or critical server rooms impacted?
Some teaching labs will be impacted, but labs designated for research are excluded from this initiative. Rooms with critical servers requiring precise climate control will also not be impacted by this initiative.
Why was my building chosen to be part of this summer energy saving initiative?
Some of the university’s buildings have been equipped with sophisticated temperature controls that allow the air conditioning levels to be adjusted remotely and scheduled in advance. Buildings with this capability are part of this energy-saving initiative. Additionally, some of these buildings have HVAC systems programmed to automatically adjust based on events/courses listed in the university’s room scheduler (Astra).
Why do some buildings just have classrooms impacted and other buildings are impacted as a whole?
Some campus buildings are equipped with special zoning equipment that allows air conditioning levels to be adjusted in just classrooms while keeping surrounding offices, labs and lobby areas at normal operating temperatures. In those buildings, the temperatures in unoccupied classrooms might be put into eco-mode beginning at, for example, 2 p.m. even though the entire building isn’t put into eco-mode until 5 p.m.
Who is in charge of this initiative?
This initiative is a collaborative effort of the University Registrar, University Sustainability Office, Energy Management, and Building Maintenance and Operations. If you have questions or concerns about this initiative, contact save_energy@ncsu.edu. This initiative is similar to the Winter Holiday Energy Saving Initiative that the university has done for more than a decade.
What do I do if I need to use a room during a time when the room’s temperature is in eco-mode?
Many buildings have a wall-mounted override switch, which will allow for a one-time override of the building’s energy-saving schedule. One switch is located on each floor and is identified by a gray sign: