UWG News Item
Contact: UWG Public Relations Office
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
UWG revises summer hours to conserve energy
May 15, 2006
CARROLLTON, GA - The University of West Georgia will implement a new work week schedule this summer in order to reduce energy costs on campus. The pilot program will begin May 22 and continue until August 4.
The new schedule will allow UWG administrative offices to
close at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays with the exception of Friday, June 2, which
is registration day for summer classes. Operating hours for the new schedule
will be Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and on Friday,
7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
The normal operating hours of Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., will resume
on Monday, August 7, a week before the fall semester begins.
The pilot program will be evaluated in the fall and repeated
the following summer if successful.
“Saving energy is a prime concern,” said Bill Gauthier, vice
president for Business and Finance. “We are trying to recover some
of our utility costs through energy savings and still retain the ability
to serve our primarily part-time student contingent in the summer sessions.”
Gauthier said energy conservation efforts over the winter months have yielded a savings of more than $100,000 in utility costs. Those efforts included following federal guidelines for a set point thermostat average of 68 degrees when heating a building and 78 degrees when cooling a building. The new schedule will allow building thermostats to be raised Friday afternoons and to remain high until Monday mornings. Gauthier estimates a savings of $5,000 per week by closing early on Fridays.
“We believe that shutting down on Friday afternoons will help us significantly reduce air conditioning costs,” said Gauthier. “The new schedule will give all employees a chance to enjoy summer a little more, too.”
For more information, contact Mike Renfrow, assistant vice president of campus planning and facilities, at 678-839-6385.
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