Energy Management Leads To “Greener” Classrooms

September 20, 2011 ::Shirley Ross, Information Systems and Computing

ISC Classroom Technology Services and VPUL Facilities have made a concerted effort during the past two years to explore options for better energy management in the Central Pool classrooms.

As part of standard renovation initiatives, LED lighting has replaced incandescent and fluorescent lighting in 20 classrooms in the Caster Building, Claudia Cohen Hall, College Hall, and Williams Hall. The Williams Hall lighting project was jointly funded by the Provost and the Penn Green Campus Partnership's Green Fund. Because the use of LED lights reduces labor costs, replacement costs, and classroom energy consumption, the long-term goal is to replace fluorescent and incandescent lighting with LED lighting in all Central Pool classrooms.

ISC Classroom Technology Services has also undertaken several initiatives to reduce power consumption by the audiovisual components in the Central Pool classrooms. ISC continues to identify and install energy efficient computers, monitors, control systems, projectors, and audiovisual components. In many cases, multiple components are replaced with a single, more energy-efficient component designed to perform the same functions. In addition, classroom projectors are programmed to shut down after five hours of inactivity and most classroom technology installations are remotely monitored and controlled. As part of the monitoring system, technology installations in many classrooms are programmed to shut down and lock out unauthorized users between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM as well as during any extended break, such as Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Break, and Winter Break. For more information, please contact Jeff Douthett at douthett@isc.upenn.edu