Students express discomfort about high temperatures in the dorms as Penn switches to a heating system

Penn students living in on-campus residential buildings have reported discomfort from high temperatures since the university switched central temperature control systems from air conditioning to heating last month.

The Quadrangle, the high-rise buildings and the Gutmann College House switched completely to heating on October 22. As the unusually warm weather continued into November, with temperatures occasionally exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with students who said the switch to heating made their dorms too hot and uncomfortable to live in.

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Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance Faramarz Vakili wrote in a statement to the DP that at any time in dormitories, “the fan coil units, which form the heating/cooling units in each room, can be connected to chilled water for cooling or hot water for heating. ”

“Each season, the process of transitioning from cooling to heating (or vice versa) for the university buildings takes several days,” Vakili wrote. “The timing decision for switching these modes is made based on temperature forecasts and historical data, but unexpected temperature fluctuations may occur in the shoulder seasons.”

He added that students can turn off their fan cooling units if temperatures are high, or submit a work order if the room remains unusually warm.

Wharton freshman Carys Martinez, who lives in the Quad, said the heat in her dorm has affected her mood during the day, especially when she wakes up in a sweat or returns to her room after a long day.

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“I have to climb four flights of stairs because I’m in McKean, and McKean doesn’t have any elevators,” Martinez said. “I want to be welcomed by a breeze, but it’s just heat and my fan.”

Martinez noted that she was grateful to have brought a fan to Penn, unlike some of her friends who don’t have fans or windows that open properly to cool their living spaces.

Sophomore student Katherine Chacon said the heat has kept her from being as productive in the lounges on the Harnwell floor, where she studies most of the time. She added that the heat has also affected her sleep quality.

“I’m someone who needs my room to be cold in order to sleep,” Chacon said. “When it’s too hot, my nose just gets clogged and I just can’t breathe.”

Chacon said she tried leaving her windows open as a solution. The trade-off, however, was the distracting noise of traffic and passing cars, which once woke her up at 5 a.m. to close her windows.

Sophomore Henry Li, who lives in the College House at Radian, recalled going to the rooftop lounge of the Rodin College House to study and having to leave within 10 minutes because of the heat.

“I can’t imagine living in that,” Li said.

The switch from AC to heating had no immediate impact on Li, as Radian residents can adjust the thermostat in their rooms. However, he noted that the change has affected many of his friends who live in the high-rises, driving them to the library or other students’ rooms “to avoid the heat.”

Despite student dissatisfaction, Martinez said she understands why the university has not indicated it will turn the air conditioning back on. She noted that, due to the large temperature fluctuations in recent weeks, residential services had to switch between air conditioning and heating every few days.

Students previously expressed concerns about high temperatures in dormitories in the fall of 2021, after the university switched to heating systems in mid-October.