University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Centennial Hall Thermal Comfort Survey
Synopsis and Corrective Action Plan – September 2013
I.
Background
UW-La Crosse’s (UW-L) Centennial Hall earned LEED® Gold certification in January 2013. LEED, or
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a national green building certification system. LEED
provides third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at increasing
performance, reducing waste and improving quality of life. Sustainable strategies are incorporated in energy
use, lighting, water and material use and more. LEED certification was established by the U.S. Green Building
Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
As part of UW-L’s commitment to LEED certification UW-L administered a Thermal Comfort Survey to meet
LEED Indoor Environmental Quality credit 7.2, Thermal Comfort, Verification. Thermal comfort can be
defined in many ways. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 defines thermal comfort as: “the condition of mind that
expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment”. ISO 7730 defines thermal comfort as: "That condition of
mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment".
In the end, Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) operates under the principle that two of the most
important parameters that affect human performance and health in a facility are thermal comfort (temperature,
humidity and air flow) and indoor air quality (ventilation).
II.
Survey Results
A web-based Qualtrics survey was conducted from September 20 through October 13, 2013. The survey was
advertised through UW-L’s Campus Connection, a weekly electronic newsletter distributed to all students,
faculty and staff. FP&M also distributed an e-mail request to all building occupants and posted a request to
complete the survey on hallway monitors located throughout the facility.
Questions 1-14 answered by students, faculty or staff without office in Centennial Hall.
Questions 1 and 15-29 answered by faculty or staff with office in Centennial Hall.
1. Select the group that best represents your connection with UW-L.
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Student
1
8%
2
Faculty or staff without
office in Centennial Hall
5
42%
3
Faculty or staff with
office in Centennial Hall
6
50%
Total
12
100%
Page 1 of 14
2. Which room type(s) do you primarily use? (Check all that apply.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Tiered lecture halls
2
33%
2
Classrooms
5
83%
3
Conference rooms
or discussion areas
3
50%
4
Other
1
17%
3. On what floor(s) are your classrooms or other primary use spaces? (Check all
that apply.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
First
3
50%
2
Second
4
67%
3
Third
2
33%
4
Fourth
0
0%
4. At any one time, what is the normal length of your stay in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Under 1 hour
1
17%
2
1 to 3 hours
3
50%
3
3 to 5 hours
2
33%
4
Greater than 5
hours
0
0%
Total
6
100%
5. How many hours per week do you spend in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Less than 5 hours
4
67%
2
5 – 15 hours
2
33%
3
15 – 30 hours
0
0%
4
More than 30 hours
0
0%
Total
6
100%
Page 2 of 14
6. What is your normal activity level in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Light activity
(mostly sitting)
5
83%
2
Medium activity
(standing, bending,
stooping, walking)
1
17%
3
Heavy activity
(exercise, physical
labor)
0
0%
Total
6
100%
7. Does sunlight passing through windows cause any thermal discomfort?
(Thermal comfort is a combination of temperature, humidity and air flow.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Yes
0
0%
2
No
5
83%
3
Windows not
present in primary
use space(s)
1
17%
Total
6
100%
8. How satisfied are you with the current indoor temperature in Centennial
Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
1
17%
2
Satisfied
0
0%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
3
50%
4
Neutral
0
0%
5
Somewhat
Dissatisfied
2
33%
6
Dissatisfied
0
0%
7
Very Dissatisfied
0
0%
Total
6
100%
Page 3 of 14
9. How satisfied are you with the current humidity levels in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
3
50%
2
Satisfied
2
33%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
1
17%
4
Neutral
0
0%
5
Somewhat
Dissatisfied
0
0%
6
Dissatisfied
0
0%
7
Very Dissatisfied
0
0%
Total
6
100%
10. How satisfied are you with the current level of air circulation in Centennial
Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
2
33%
2
Satisfied
2
33%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
1
17%
4
Neutral
0
0%
5
Somewhat
Dissatisfied
1
17%
6
Dissatisfied
0
0%
7
Very Dissatisfied
0
0%
Total
6
100%
Page 4 of 14
11. Based on your attire/clothing, which temperature sensation best describes
your current thermal comfort in Centennial Hall? (Thermal comfort is a
combination of temperature, humidity and air flow.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Hot
(uncomfortable)
0
0%
2
Warm
2
33%
3
Neutral
1
17%
4
Cool
2
33%
5
Cold
(uncomfortable)
1
17%
Total
6
100%
12. If you currently experience thermal discomfort (uncomfortable), which of
the following days/times of day does this occur? Check all that apply.
#
Answer
Response
%
1
I am content with
the current thermal
comfort in
Centennial Hall
2
33%
2
Monday through
Friday
3
50%
3
Saturday or Sunday
0
0%
4
Between 8:00 AM
and Noon
2
33%
5
Between Noon and
6:00 PM
0
0%
6
Between 6:00 PM
and 10:00 PM
1
17%
7
Between 10:00 PM
and 8:00 AM
0
0%
Page 5 of 14
13. Does Centennial Hall’s indoor building temperature, humidity or air flow
negatively impact your classroom activities?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
No
4
67%
2
Yes
2
33%
Total
6
100%
14. Please provide any other desired comments on thermal comfort in
Centennial Hall.
Text Response
1.
I feel that the rooms get a bit stuffy at times, and I am cold more often than not, but it is all manageable.
2.
I have two experiences that pull in opposite directions. I feel comfortable about 50% of the time. I feel
cool about 35% of the time, mostly in office spaces on the first and 4th floors. In second-floor classrooms
where I teach, I often feel hot, particularly due to the ceiling-mounted recessed lights facing the lecture
area at the front of the classroom — these emit a lot of heat and make it uncomfortable to stand under
them.
3.
I am constantly cold in all of the academic buildings. Within five minutes of class starting I am usually
shivering because I am so cold.
15. On what floor is your office?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
First
2
33%
2
Second
0
0%
3
Third
0
0%
4
Fourth
4
67%
Total
6
100%
16. How is your office configured?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Open (no walls)
1
17%
2
Partitioned (onehalf walls)
0
0%
3
Enclosed (full walls)
5
83%
Total
6
100%
Page 6 of 14
17. At any one time, what is the normal length of your stay in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Under 1 hour
0
0%
2
1 to 3 hours
0
0%
3
3 to 5 hours
2
33%
4
Greater than 5
hours
4
67%
Total
6
100%
18. On average, how many hours per week do you spend in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Less than 5 hours
0
0%
2
5 – 15 hours
1
17%
3
15 – 30 hours
1
17%
4
More than 30 hours
4
67%
Total
6
100%
19. What is your normal activity level in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Light activity
(mostly sitting)
3
50%
2
Medium activity
(standing, bending,
stooping, walking)
3
50%
3
Heavy activity
(exercise, physical
labor)
0
0%
Total
6
100%
Page 7 of 14
20. Does sunlight passing through windows cause any thermal discomfort?
(Thermal comfort is a combination of temperature, humidity and air flow.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Yes
0
0%
2
No
6
100%
3
Windows not present in
primary use space(s)
0
0%
Total
6
100%
21. Which direction are window(s) facing?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
East
2
33%
2
West
1
17%
3
North
2
33%
4
South
1
17%
5
Windows not
present in primary
use space(s)
0
0%
22. How satisfied are you with the current indoor temperature in Centennial
Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
0
0%
2
Satisfied
1
17%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
1
17%
4
Neutral
0
0%
5
Somewhat
Dissatisfied
1
17%
6
Dissatisfied
2
33%
7
Very Dissatisfied
1
17%
Total
6
100%
Page 8 of 14
23. How satisfied are you with the current humidity levels in Centennial Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
1
17%
2
Satisfied
1
17%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
0
0%
4
Neutral
3
50%
5
Somewhat
Dissatisfied
1
17%
6
Dissatisfied
0
0%
7
Very Dissatisfied
0
0%
Total
6
100%
24. How satisfied are you with the current level of air circulation in Centennial
Hall?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Very Satisfied
1
17%
2
Satisfied
1
17%
3
Somewhat Satisfied
1
17%
4
Neutral
1
17%
5
Somewhat Dissatisfied
1
17%
6
Dissatisfied
1
17%
7
Very Dissatisfied
0
0%
Total
6
100%
25. Based on your attire/clothing, which temperature sensation best describes
your current thermal comfort in Centennial Hall? (Thermal comfort is a
combination of temperature, humidity and air flow.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Hot (uncomfortable)
0
0%
2
Warm
2
33%
3
Neutral
0
0%
4
Cool
2
33%
5
Cold (uncomfortable)
2
33%
Total
6
100%
Page 9 of 14
26. If you currently experience thermal discomfort (uncomfortable), which of
the following days/times of day does this occur? Check all that apply.
#
Answer
Response
%
1
I am content with
the current thermal
comfort in
Centennial Hall
0
0%
2
Monday through
Friday
5
100%
3
Saturday or Sunday
0
0%
4
Between 8:00 AM
and Noon
3
60%
5
Between Noon and
6:00 PM
4
80%
6
Between 6:00 PM
and 10:00 PM
0
0%
7
Between 10:00 PM
and 8:00 AM
0
0%
27. Does Centennial Hall’s indoor building temperature, humidity or air flow
negatively impact your job performance?
#
Answer
Response
%
1
No
2
33%
2
Yes
4
67%
Total
6
100%
28. Which of the following do you personally adjust or control in your office?
(Check all that apply.)
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Window blinds or shades
2
33%
3
Door to interior space
3
50%
5
Clothing (i.e., sweater)
4
67%
6
Turning off equipment (i.e.,
computer, desk lighting)
1
17%
7
None
1
17%
8
Other
1
17%
Page 10 of 14
29. Please provide any other desired comments on thermal comfort in
Centennial Hall.
Text Response
1.
I often find myself cold in my north-facing office. There has been precipitation that has come onto my
window ledge. There is also often a draft from the windows. I feel like I'm always cold in my office.
2.
The desk in my office is immediately adjacent to the register and had a solid back which impeded the
circulation of air so someone from Maintenance kindly came and cut a portion off the backing of the desk
but this had not helped with regulating the room temperature. Currently it is too hot in my office. Last
year, in the winter, it was sometimes too cold in the office.
3.
There are many times when gloves are necessary to type and this does not work well! A heater is a
necessity in my office at most times of the year. I should not have to bundle up especially during the
warmer months. Why can't we adjust the thermostat that is in some of our offices so we can work in a
comfortable room temperature?
4.
Need to have better air flow throughout building.
III.
Corrective Action Plan
In accordance with the LEED EQ credit 7.2, Facilities Management staff will take action to enhance thermal
comfort when 20% or more of Centennial Hall occupants are not satisfied with the facilities overall combination
of temperature, humidity and air flow. The survey revealed at least 20% dissatisfaction with temperature
among building occupants. Twelve people completed this survey; one-half of the respondents have offices in
the building and the remaining one-half of respondents did not have offices in the building. The response rate
for this survey was exceptionally small. This low response rate does not provide a complete and valid reflection
of occupant thermal comfort. Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) will use this limited data to
enhance thermal comfort.
FP&M suspects that some of the lack of satisfaction results from not adequately educating faculty, staff and
students on LEED energy-saving requirements associated with operation of the Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) system in Centennial Hall. FP&M will work to enhance LEED
thermal comfort education through a combination of personal discussions with building occupants during
temperature trouble calls, Campus Connection (newsletter) articles and UW-L website postings. These
communications may include information comparable to the information presented in the remainder of this
section.
The purpose of any building HVACR equipment is to maintain acceptable indoor environmental conditions. A
primary focus in design, installation and operation of HVACR systems at UW-L includes optimizing energy
efficiency, while at the same time balancing the need for overall thermal comfort and good indoor air quality.
The HVACR systems in all buildings at UW-L are monitored and to a variable degree controlled by a Building
Automation System (BAS). The BAS is a computerized, intelligent network of electronic devices designed to
monitor and control various mechanical and electronic systems in a building that comprise the HVACR system.
The combined HVACR and BAS in Centennial Hall are extensive, complex and contain the latest generation of
energy saving technology. BAS controls in Centennial Hall include sensors to define occupancy (passive
Page 11 of 14
infrared and ultrasonic) as well as humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide and light sensors. These sensors
measure and provide data to the BAS; the BAS integrates the data and makes automatic adjustments to optimize
thermal comfort.
When sensors define an area as being unoccupied, the HVACR system enters and energy saving mode. This
allows individual rooms to deviate from optimal thermal comfort conditions. When sensors identify a room as
occupied, the HVACR system automatically adjusts to improve thermal comfort. The time taken by the
HVACR system to adjust to optimal conditions is quite variable. The room size, room location, number of
occupants, type of equipment/heat load, day, time of day, outside weather conditions, original
temperature/humidity and other factors contribute to the amount of time it takes the HVACR and BAS to
optimize thermal comfort in a room.
The key point is that individual room thermal comfort conditions in Centennial Hall are allowed to fluctuate
when rooms are not occupied. When the room becomes occupied it takes time to adjust to optimal conditions.
This energy saving feature is a purposeful design element and will contribute to some level of discomfort when
people enter a room that has not been occupied for an extended time period.
Another significant contributor to room comfort is the thermal memory of contents (furniture, equipment,
building structure) in a room. As an example, think about the chill you likely feel when you enter a room
temperature bed in winter, the bed is typically cool at first, but as you remain covered your body emits heat that
warms the bed. The same concept exists with all contents in a room, if the temperature of the contents has
changed the HVACR works to achieve equilibrium between the temperature of the air and surrounding
contents.
The HVACR system in Centennial Hall is significantly more complex than most other buildings at UW-L. As
already described, thermal comfort in Centennial Hall is regulated by individual room sensors and scheduled
occupancy periods. However, the BAS in most other UW-L buildings maintains thermal comfort on a set time
schedule. For instance, temperature settings may be allowed to vary from policy limits late at night, early in the
morning and on weekends as determined by the buildings regular use schedule. In these older systems sensors
do not make adjustments based on ability to detect if a room is occupied or unoccupied. The older BAS and
HVACR systems do a decent job maintaining a set temperature, but they do so at the cost of energy efficiency.
Centennial Hall is at least 30% more energy efficient, because of the extensive and technologically
sophisticated BAS and HVACR system.
In addition to enhancing education on operations, additional thermal comfort enhancements are defined below
the issue acquiring action.
1. Question 8 reveals that 33% of students and faculty/staff without offices in Centennial Hall are not
satisfied with the current temperature in Centennial Hall. Question 22 reveals that 67% of faculty or
staff with an office in Centennial Hall is not satisfied with the current temperature in Centennial Hall.
Note: Actions to address temperature discomfort must comply with the State of Wisconsin Energy-Use
Policy available at http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6147&locid=4. The policy is
intended to reduce the use of energy from fossil fuels and other sources in State facilities without
adversely affecting program operations. Based on State policy UW-L regulates an overall temperature
of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the heating season and 72-74 degrees Fahrenheit during the cooling
season.
Page 12 of 14
Corrective Actions: Throughout the first approximate 2 years of operations in Centennial Hall,
Facilities Management has continued to monitor and take corrective action on numerous error reports
generated by the BAS. Facilities Management has also, and will continue to respond to occupant
reported temperature concerns. All reported concerns are reviewed on the BAS and field verified. Any
electrical or mechanical component of the BAS that fails is repaired or replaced. Facilities Management
has also developed a preventive maintenance schedule to inspect and replace system components
requiring regular maintenance, such as air filters. Additional actions taken or to be taken could include
adjusting system controls such as temperature set points, schedules, operating modes and air flow
adjustments.
Facilities Management continues to work with architects, engineers and construction contractors to
address equipment warranty issues that impact thermal comfort in Centennial Hall.
2. Specific concerns identified in question 14 by students and faculty/staff without offices in Centennial
Hall and in question 29 by faculty or staff with an office in Centennial Hall will be managed as
summarized below. One reply is provided when redundant concerns were reported.
29-1 “I often find myself cold in my north-facing office. There has been precipitation that has come
onto my window ledge. There is also often a draft from the windows”. The high-tech windows are dual
paned under vacuum and argon-filled to minimize the passage of heat and cold through the windows.
However, windows lose more heat than any other exterior surface in a building. Individual windows
that feel drafty or are allowing in precipitation should be reported to Facilities Management for
inspection. Drafty windows may be a sign that the window was not installed properly or a seal is
defective and/or damaged. North facing office windows were all recently inspected with no evidence of
leakage or drafts. In all likelihood the supply air register mounted in the suspended ceiling is creating an
air current that causes cooler air near the window to blow on the room occupant.
29-2 “Currently it is too hot in my office. Last year, in the winter, it was sometimes too cold in the
office”. Personnel experiencing temperatures outside State Policy limits (overall temperature of 68-70
degrees Fahrenheit during the heating season and 72-74 degrees Fahrenheit during the cooling season)
should report specific locations to Facilities Management. Facilities Management will field verify
concerns and make warranted adjustments and/or repairs.
Facilities Management is required to comply with this State policy, but at the same time we recognize
that temperature comfort among people is quite variable. Facilities Management encourages occupants
to recognize that thermal comfort is a partnership. All individuals can contribute by dressing to achieve
comfort based on Policy driven temperature set points along with their given level of activity and
temperature tolerance.
Page 13 of 14
Energy efficiency enhancements in the heating/cooling system in Centennial Hall include sensors that
automatically regulate building temperatures and humidity when rooms are deemed to be unoccupied.
Personnel experiencing quick temperature swings on a routine basis should report the specific location
to Facilities Management. The sensors are a component in a very complex and inter-related building
automation system (BAS). When a component of the system is not properly functioning or needs
adjustment, comfort can be compromised. Facilities Management will correct any system deficiencies.
In cases where no equipment or BAS faults exist, a feeling of air becoming “noticeably cooler” may be
part of normal operations. When a room is occupied, the ventilation system and BAS work to maintain
temperatures at a set point of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the heating season and 72-74 degrees
Fahrenheit during the cooling season. When a temperature set point is met, the mechanical air flow
entering a room stops being heated in winter or cooled during the summer. This continuing air stream
helps maintain good air quality, but the air stream will feel cooler in winter or warmer in summer. This
feeling of coolness is real and is comparable to a discomforting winter wind chill or the comforting
cooling effect of a breeze on a hot summer day.
Discomfort resulting from reduced air flow in individual rooms can also result from the level of
occupancy in other parts of Centennial Hall. Air circulated in Centennial Hall is primarily regulated by
four large air handling units, each providing air to separate quadrants in the building. During periods of
low quadrant occupancy, the air handling unit serving that quadrant reduces output air volume to
conserve energy. These large units do not increase air flow until occupancy levels rise in the quadrant.
Air continues to circulate in individual rooms when the air handler is in a low occupancy mode and the
sensors in the room continue to work to achieve optimal thermal comfort. However, the low air volume
increases the length of time needed to return to comfortable conditions.
IV.
Reporting Thermal Comfort Concerns
As stated in the survey, building occupants with specific thermal comfort concerns are encouraged to report
facility concerns directly to the Facilities Management Office at (608) 785-8585 or submit an on line work
request through https://iservicedesk.uwlax.edu/. The Facilities Management office hours are Monday through
Friday from 6:30 AM until 4:00 PM, closed on legal holidays. For emergency facilities service outside these
hours contact University Switchboard at (608) 785-8000.
Report Completed: 11/22/2013, D. Sweetman
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