Dear Campus Community,
Rice University has been dispatched by CenterPoint Energy to reduce electricity consumption on campus today, September 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Rice is a partner along with several other institutions and businesses in an electrical load-sharing program led by CenterPoint Energy and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to reduce the risk of area-wide electricity disruptions during the summer months.
How can you help?
- Turn off non-essential lights in offices, conference rooms, and break rooms
- Turn off discretionary appliances (unused computers, coffee makers, etc.)
- Make sure all windows and exterior doors are closed
- Close window blinds and shades to reduce the build-up of heat from the sun inside of buildings; and
- Take any other measures available to you to reduce electricity consumption
Air conditioning will be setback for brief periods in areas not designated as research or laboratory space. Research and lab buildings (including the BioScience Research Collaborative), the Rice Children’s Campus, off-campus Graduate Housing, the Cambridge Office Building, and the Greenbriar Building will be unaffected.
For more information about Rice’s participation in electricity curtailment programs, see http://news.rice.edu/2016/04/22/smart-electricity-programs-save-rice-1-4-million/.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this event. Please get in touch with Eric Valentine (energy@rice.edu or 713-348-5432) with any additional questions or concerns related to this event.
Thank you.
Facilities Engineering and Planning