In the fall and spring, outdoor temperatures often change rapidly and unpredictably from hot to cold one day to the next, and even within the same day. Facilities departments refer to this as the ‘shoulder season’ and it represents a very challenging time of year for Operations staff in terms of maintaining comfortable interior space temperature.
Unlike in our homes, where equipment is capable of switching rapidly from heating to cooling mode as outdoor conditions require, the large systems in our campus facilities are dedicated to either cooling or heating and cannot be rapidly started or stopped to react to changes in temperature. In fact, most of our buildings allow for either cooling or heating depending upon the season, but not both at the same time.
Throughout the shoulder season, there is no single day when changing the system from cooling to heating or vice-versa will optimally match the weather pattern. During this seasonal changeover, Operations staff rely heavily on weather forecasts to anticipate how buildings will need to be operated to manage temperature swings that might be experienced on any given day. The staff makes strategic decisions to maintain efficient use of equipment while utilizing air flow to rooms and outdoor air to mitigate “hot” and “cold” spaces.
Complicating matters is the fact that there are a variety of heating and cooling system types installed in buildings throughout our campuses. The types and location of building controls and control systems, such as thermostats and air handler units, room locations, and heat sources (lights, people, computers, etc.), are all factors that affect space comfort and temperature.
Campus community members are encouraged to bring a sweater on cooler days to ensure optimal comfort during the shoulder season.
If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Services – Trafalgar at 905-845-9430 (ext. 2255) or email fmdsktra@sheridancollege.ca. For Davis and HMC inquiries, please call 905-459-7533 (ext. 5210) or email fmdskdav@sheridancollege.ca.