College campuses can be notorious for old dorm buildings that are wildly inefficient and uncomfortable for their residents. Since most students aren't even allowed to put nails in the wall, the idea of making energy improvements might seem like an impossible task. But there are solutions, from the temporary (and non-destructive!) to rallying your neighbors and RA to push for a more comfortable and responsible living environment.
1. Seal those leaks!
Sealing leaks is one of the best ways to cut down on annoying drafts and save energy. While most universities would probably frown upon their residents breaking out the caulking gun, there are a few temporary things you can do:
If you notice a lot of cold air coming in around your windows, a few sheets of insulating plastic will make a huge difference. Just take the plastic and place it onto your window frame. Leave at least an inch of space between the plastic and your window, and never apply the sheets to directly to window glass. After winter has come and gone, remove the sheets carefully, and your window frames will be left scuff-free.
If you live on a first-floor hallway with an exterior door that's opened frequently, you should also consider installing a door sweep to keep cool air out. For cracks and leaks on your ceiling or around window frames, doors and air registers, ask your RA about getting a maintenance staffer in to install caulk or weather stripping.
2. Rearrange: fitting all of your belongings in a small space is no easy task, but be careful to make sure that you're not blocking or covering heating vents in the process. A piece of advice from Earth911:
Try to leave at least a foot of space around your air registers for maximum efficiency, and avoid stacking books, clothes and other items on top of the heating unit.
3. Talk to your RA - You may not have much control over your building's mechanical systems, but your Residential Advisor can be a good ally in getting answers:
Ask him or her about the maintenance of your dorm's heating system (the EPA recommends frequent air filter changes and a pre-season checkup each year). If your RA doesn't know the answers, he or she will be able to point you in the direction of someone who does.
And while you're on the subject of energy conservation, ask your RA what temperature the dorm's thermostat is set to, and bring up a few eco questions. Who decided on the temperature and why? Has a programmable thermostat been installed? If you've noticed your dorm mates complaining about being too warm, ask if the temperature could be reduced to save energy.
Read More Tips: How to Weatherize Your Dorm Room at Earth911
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My first year in college, our dorm floor was always cold the whole winter. We'd call to complain, they'd send a wandering security officer to check it out (who was coming in from the outside, so anything inside a building felt warm) and they'd report back that it was fine. On moving-out day in May, we discovered that the room that had the thermostat for the entire floor had put their mini fridge underneath the thermostat, so the warm coils had been keeping the temperature reading artificially warm the whole year. Learn from our mistake!
While your RA will certainly try to help you figure out who to ask about weatherization, as a former RA I can tell you that we didn't have access to any information about filter changes. A more expedient option might be to call your maintenance staff yourself, or the Office of Student Life (or its equivalent).
Off topic, but does anyone know where to find the print above the bed?
Actually, our dorm has the opposite problem. Once the building heat is turned on, the room becomes brazil. We have a radiator with an adjustable knob, but it's only on or off, really. The arctic, the equator, the arctic, the equator.
If your room has heating issues, I'd advise against having the bed and box spring setting directly on the floor as in the photo that accompanies the article. I'd suggest not only using the bed frame, but bed risers as well to have the bed in a more temporate level (what with heat rising and everything).
I lived in a dorm one year that was so hot that i had a fan running the upstate New York winter air into the room at all times. The door knob was hot to the touch. What a waste.
Don't know why, but, I want to say that print is a Milton Glaser? Am I wrong?
What would you call that white pad on top of the orange mattress? I could use one.
I need that pink rug. Any ideas where one could be found? I've just registered to comment so any pointers gratefully received. I NEED IT :-)
I had baseboard heaters which I could control. It actually was too bad (most people say it was hot, but then again I'm constantly cold so I was comfortable), what I really wish I had was a humidifier and a ceiling fan. It was very dry and there was no air movement. April 1st the buildings turn off the heat, then it was cold, and we could do nothing about it.