As a result of this survey, the University began to look at alternatives for student lighting, according to Robert L. Mortimer, associate director for building services.
A sub-committee of the Undergraduate Committee on House Life, along with the Director of Physical Resources Michael Lichten, is in the midst of two separate processes that it hopes will make the halogens unnecessary, according to committee member Robert B. Wolinsky '98.
One of the steps involves an upgrade of dorm lighting, which began in Quincy House last spring, said Wolinsky, who toured New Quincy after the lighting upgrade. He saw one common room where students were studying under the ceiling light.
"These students had halogen lights, several of them. They were off," Wolinsky said.
In addition to the lighting upgrade, the College has contracted with a company to develop a prototype of a lamp using an incandescent bulb to replace the halogen lamps. The student who conducted the survey on lighting designed this prototype.
"These lights actually perform better in testing that halogens," Wolinsky said.
"We're going to try to distribute a few hundred to student rooms to see how they work out," Mortimer said. He expects the lamps to be distributed this fall.
No decision has been made on how to make these lights available to the campus at large.
"It's something we're trying to work out.... One possibility is to provide that as part of your furniture in your room," Mortimer said.
Although The Coop still sells the halogen torchieres, Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) has replaced them with a stock of lamps using mainly incandescent bulbs, none of which uses more than 150 watts.
"I didn't think it was a bad decision as long as their decision was about safety.... It saves money for the University, which they must like," said B. Cameron Sheldon '99, manager of the HSA Campus Store.
"[The University] let us know immediately. They were very helpful about it, willing to give us advice," Sheldon added.
A "Fire Safety Alert" has been posted in upperclass houses which warns against the dangers of halogen lamps. This alert says that lamps with 500-watt tubular halogen bulbs are now prohibited by the University.
Students who own lamps can guard against the danger of fire by requesting a complimentary protective covering from the manufacturer of the lamps sold at the Coop. The covers, which are mailed directly to customers, can be obtained by calling 1-800-985-2220.
A Surey...should that more than 40 percent of the power used in Harvard residences went to halogen lamps: