EcoBlog

I live off-campus. My house always collects frost on the outside door. I have tried taping plastic over it to seal it better, and then the plastic gets ice on it. Replacing the door would cost $1000 to $2000, which is more than I went to spend right now. Does anyone have other ideas?

Steve,
Have you tried looking into some good weatherstripping? I found a site that lists several types, best uses, cost, and advantages/disadvantages. http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11280

I lived in Griggs dorm last year and the temperature was always too hot. In the winter, I opened my window more to regulate temperature than I did turn on the heater. I agree that this is a problem. I lived on the sixth floor so i am wondering if it was just the rooms below mine that heated up the room or if it was the whole heating system of the dorms. In either case, how can it be solved?

I lived in Griggs dorm last year and the temperature was always too hot. In the winter, I opened my window more to regulate temperature than I did turn on the heater. I agree that this is a problem. I lived on the sixth floor so i am wondering if it was just the rooms below mine that heated up the room or if it was the whole heating system of the dorms. In either case, how can it be solved?

I live in stadium apartments and I had a dilema last night. It was keep the window open or listen to the snowplow back up and rev its engine. I decided to keep my window open because it gets to hot in my room. It would help if people understood that temperature can be set between 80 and 60. I will not mention names. I do think the heat issue occurs at higher levels, but I plan on asking people on the first floor.

I live in Stadium Apartments, and I've had to open my window the past few days because it's been so hot in my room. I live in one of the two-story apartments, and I have noticed that sometimes when it's really hot in my room upstairs, it's comfortable or a bit chilly downstairs.

During my freshman year, I lived in Burntside Hall. The way the rooms are set up with the heating system, there is one thermostat for 6 rooms. My room had the thermostat. In order for it to be comfortable in my room and the room directly across from mine, the room diagonally across the hall was extremely warm. The girls that lived there had their window for most of the winter.

I think the poor temperatures have to do with the position of the heaters. If a heater is next to a window the heat will just go between the window and the curtain. Maybe the heaters could be next to a wall. Finally all of the window space on the two story apartments is not very friendly unless it is a sunny day.

I live off campus, my windows are frosted and I bury myself under my electric heating blanket every night.
But I remember living in lake superior hall freshman year and having a very warm room. Maybe heat should be controlled per floor (I'm not sure how it is controlled now, by building, area, or floor? anyone have an idea?) But I definitely think that the level of the building has a large effect. So if it were controlled per floor, energy savings could occur in higher floors.

I live off campus. We actually don't pay much at all for heat but this is due to us having the thermostat set to around 60 degrees. I do remember living in Heaney Hall sophmore year and remembering how hot it was on our floor. We lived on the 3rd floor so you can guess why that is. One thing I noticed was that the stairwells were always so hot yet the halls were cold. If they could better circulate that warmer air I think things would have been better.

Are there any solar panels anywhere on campus? It seems like an increasingly obvious addition as they continue to come down in price but I haven't noticed any. Maybe lighting in the dorm hallways could be covered entirely by these. Also, I think it would have been a much better idea to put up a couple of wind turbines than that ridiculous harvest moon sculpture. The Gales of November come early. If there's enough money to put up a new building every year there should be enough for something like this.

I experienced the same overheated rooms as most freshmen and sophomores. I think the problem is that retrofitting old buildings is very expensive and labor intensive. It is good to hear that U.M.D's expansions are more environmentally friendly. I have heard that the new business building will have solar panels as well as other green gadgets. Does anyone know more about what is actually being implemented and not just hear-say?

Hey Luke, I have seen a number of solar panels on campus. Have you noticed the how there are a few stop signs that blink around campus? They appear to be powered by little solar panels. So that's pretty cool. Like they needed to blink anyway... (sorry for the late response)