Harvard Buildings Remain Overheated Awaiting Steam Control, Valve Change

In spite of President Nixon's energy conservation guidelines, overheated conditions in most Harvard buildings will not be relieved until the end of this month or December, a Buildings and Grounds Department spokesman said yesterday.

Les Thomas, utilities manager for the department, said that maintenance men were "zeroing in on overheated buildings" by manually operating master controls to cut down on steam in each building.

But adjustment to cool temperatures would not be effected for several weeks or until "the real heating season begins," he said.

Thomas said fuel was being wasted since students have opened their windows to alleviate overheating. He added that the department plans to install automatic master valves to control heating and cooling systems in University buildings.

The $2.2 million Delta 2000 system has been in the planning stages for the last year and a half and some valves of the new unit have already been installed, Thomas said. The system also calls for automatic fire alarms to be placed in buildings.

The project has not yet been approved by the Faculty although it has already been approved by the faculties of the Law School, Divinity School, School of Public Health, Education School, School of Design and the University administration, Thomas said.

Plans call for a long range, two and a half year payback on the initial $2.2 million investment or an approximate $1 million per year savings on fuel, he added.