Converge & Conquer

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Facilities Management

Converge & Conquer

7/1/2008

By Paul Korzeniowski

Energy usage will continue to rise, say the pundits. IT department footprints continue to expand, campus computing and tech devices become more powerful, and the push toward increased mobility means extending the reach of networks with devices such as wireless access points and controllers-- all energy hogs. That's why better management of electric power is a prime concern for Robert Bell, director of plant operations at Tallahassee Community College (FL). He oversees 85 staffers involved with maintenance, outsourcing, and environmental tasks at the college, which has about 13,000 students, 40 buildings, and 1.2 million square feet of space. Like other institutions, the college is constantly trying to reduce its energy consumption and for several years has been using Johnson Controls' Metasys building management system to meet that goal. The product features a web browser interface and support for standards such as XML, SOAP, SNMP, and DHCP, so it can easily be networked with other devices. Bell's team now can use the system even to monitor lights in classrooms. With the installation of more energy-efficient lighting, these measures have enabled the college to achieve energy reductions of close to 20 percent annually.

Safety issues. Higher ed institutions are pushing these types of efficiencies beyond traditional school buildings and into new areas, as well. Mount Holyoke, for one, is using Automated Logic's WebCTRL system to control the lighting in its parking lots-- and not just for energy reasons. "We want to make sure that such areas are well-lit so students can safely get to their cars at night," explains Boudreau.

In fact, many schools have been expanding and enhancing their physical security infrastructure to prevent (and, unfortunately, to be prepared to respond to) campus tragedies such as the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. Increasingly, video cameras as well as expanded illumination are being positioned in areas such as parking lots, campus entryways, recreation spots, and relaxation sites. Many times, these cameras are connected to the campus network and the images are collected in an institution's data center. More overlap of Facilities and IT is underway as colleges and universities seek to protect students as well as campus and personal property. Alarm and alert systems are in demand, as are technologies like biometrics, which can greatly improve building access control.