The Switchover—What is it?The “switchover” is the action that takes place to convert a two-pipe building from heating to cooling in the spring and from cooling to heating in the fall. All two-pipe systems can heat and cool but not at the same time. There is not a definite time this change takes place, it is based upon several different criteria. In a typical two-pipe building, the cooling is turned off and the building is allowed to float with the outside air temperature. During this period (commonly called “shoulder season”), air conditioning will make the building too cold at night and heat will make the building too warm during the day, so in the interest of trying to keep the building comfortable, there is no heating or cooling. The next step of the changeover is to change the building to heating mode and start the campus steam plant, since most two-pipe buildings are dependent upon campus steam for heat. According to the University Energy Policy, this step should not occur “until the high outside air temperature has dropped below 55° Fahrenheit for three consecutive days. Temperature projections are also considered.” If it turns cold but is projected to warm up in a couple of days, the heat may not be turned on. Most people surveyed have stated they would rather be cold than hot. The other factor which plays into the fall switchover is building protection from freezing during campus holidays. The buildings will be switched to heat at Thanksgiving so the buildings will not freeze if we have a sudden cold snap over the holidays. Similarly, the switchover in the spring occurs in the opposite manner as above. However, air conditioning may not begin until outside air temperature has reached 75° Fahrenheit for three consecutive days. Once again, temperature projections will be taken into consideration. We will generally be in cooling mode upon return from Spring Break. University Facilities will try to accommodate each building’s needs as much as possible but unseasonable weather fluctuations make this difficult at times. Please contact your building representative if you would like your building switched. The building representative will assess the entire building needs and work with Energy Management to best serve the majority of the building occupants. Facilities does not have enough people to change buildings back and forth from heating to cooling, so once your building is switched over, it will not be switched back until the next seasonal change. Please contact Robert Martin, Energy Manager, (205) 348-8274 or email: rmartin@fa.ua.edu in Energy Management if you have questions or concerns. |