A computerized program called Insight runs the heating units in 14 freshman dorms, including Greenough. The system monitors temperature both outside the building and in some rooms, and then uses this data to set the temperature of the hot water that heats each room. Picott said that the system has been in use for 10 years, and has been fine-tuned to provide very effective results.
“Most of the complaints we get are that the buildings are too cold,” he said, but added that when they check room temperature, “usually, it’s over 68 degrees, [and] we rarely get readings that are over 70.”
Picott said Yard Ops was always available to listen to student feedback, but couldn’t meet the demands of individual students like Cowles.
For his part, Cowles “would like to pursue a larger discussion” of energy conservation on campus, “even though it’s not feasible to lower the health code.”
“I think that as a general rule, people would agree that we should use less energy and put a sweater on,” he said.