It is undeniable that the heating system has a multitude of problems that need to be addressed. Some buildings are nearly unheated while occupants of others are forced to open their windows in the winter. For most of the campus, the heat is always on, even on unseasonably warm days, and is set to distribute a constant amount of heat regardless of whether the room is already at a comfortable temperature. Balance and circulation is a big problem, as well; one can easily find examples of a dorm room almost without heat next to one that is like a sauna. It is for these reasons that windows on buildings from Bray Hall to the Sage Labs can be seen open from November to March, wasting money every second.

Upgrading the system and fixing these problems should be a critical part of the current discussion. Rooms should all have thermostats with thermometers on them so the heat can be shut off once the room reaches a certain temperature and shut off entirely on warm days. Even a simple on/off switch for more than just the fan would work in many cases. Some of these problems require a great deal of time and money to fix, but in the long run could end up saving the campus money since our energy costs for the year are expected to grow an additional 40 percent or more.

At the same time, however, efficiency should be increased in as many other areas as possible. At night, the campus can be seen for miles; perhaps the Harkness Field floodlights can be shut off after activity on the field has ceased. In addition, classrooms and labs have lights left on nearly 24 hours a day; this, too, is an area that can be cut back. Belt-tightening will, of course, still be required, and perhaps everyone can agree that before academic programs are cut back, campus beautification projects should be postponed or canceled.