Disasters / Emergencies

The Heat Is On! How Are You Handling It?

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on

It’s getting hot in herre
So turn off all your lights.
I am… getting so hot…
I wanna turn my lights off! [FN1]

Here on the East Coast, things are heating up. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about the legal job market.

We’re speaking much more literally. For the past few days, New York, Washington, and places in between have been in the grips of a brutal heat wave. On Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures in NYC broke record highs, entering triple-digit territory.

Today, mercifully, has been a bit better. In D.C., temps will top out in the mid-to-upper 90s this afternoon. As a Washington Post reader quipped, “Only in the mid 90’s today… better grab a jacket before leaving the house!”

They say lawyers are cold-blooded creatures — but we get hot too. How are law firms and law schools coping with the heat?

One common strategy, to reduce heat but also to conserve energy: take off all your clothes turn out the lights (at least the non-essential ones). For example, the landlord of one large law firm in midtown Manhattan has turned off the hallway lights during the day, leaving only offices illuminated. The resulting feel is “actually kind of relaxing,” a tipster tells us.

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Energy conservation is a serious concern during heat waves. The widespread use of air conditioning taxes the electrical grid, with the potential to trigger blackouts. There have been various power failures, fortunately limited in extent, in both the New York and Washington metropolitan areas.

Con Ed is handling disaster better than erstwhile power behemoth BP. Those who go without power for more than 12 hours can file a claim with Con Ed to have their spoiled groceries reimbursed.

Meanwhile, in the academy, universities are taking steps to keep cool while conserving energy. For example, on Tuesday and Wednesday, NYU was “selectively shutting off or significantly reducing air conditioning in certain facilities, as air conditioning is an enormous electrical drain.” This resulted in some good news for NYU employees yesterday:

Because of the high temperatures, it may become uncomfortable in certain buildings this afternoon. Therefore, we are providing discretion to managers and supervisors to release employees beginning around 4:00 p.m. If you are experiencing uncomfortable temperatures in your work setting, please be in touch with your manager or supervisor.

For better or worse, here in the Breaking Media offices, our air conditioning is running strong (although it appears to have sprung a leak).

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NYU also offered some helpful hints for reducing electricity consumption:

  • Shut off your lights if you have a window
  • Use your shade to avoid allowing in more than the necessary sunshine
  • Shut off your lights and computer when you leave your office for more than a short period
  • Shut off peripheral items if you are not using them: printers, speakers, etc.
  • Make sure that all copiers are off or are in “power saver” mode if not being used

How are you coping with the heat? Let us know, in the comments.

[FN1] No, that’s not a typo. The song title, by the hip-hot artist Nelly, uses “herre” rather than “here.” See herre.

P.S. We’ve reprinted below (a) the full emails from NYU with advice for dealing with the heat wave and (b) a YouTube clip of the Nelly song, “Hot In Herre.”

Feel free to turn off your lights, close (and lock) your office door, play the Nelly clip, and dance to it. Doesn’t that sound like a fun afternoon break?

New York Wilts Under Record-Breaking Heat Wave [New York Times]
Con-Ed Nerve Center Fights to Keep Lights On [New York Times]
Forecast: Somewhat cooler through weekend [Capital Weather Gang / Washington Post]
Hot in Herre [Wikipedia]
Hot in Herre [YouTube]

From: Provost David McLaughlin and Executive VP Michael Alfano
Date: Tue, Jul 6, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Subject: Urgent Request from Con Ed to Reduce Electrical Usage, and Impacts on NYU Facilities

Because of the high temperatures, the University has received an urgent request from the New York Independent Systems Operators on behalf of Con Edison to reduce its electrical usage, and NYU will be complying.

**IMPACT OF REDUCING ELECTRICAL USAGE**
To respond to this request, NYU will be selectively shutting off air conditioning in certain facilities, as air conditioning is an enormous
electrical drain. NYU will also be shutting off unneeded lighting and shutting down elevators in building with redundant banks.

We are putting a priority on maintaining air conditioning in facilities where classes are held and research is conducted so that our academic mission can carry on; all faculty and students should expect their classes to meet and research activities to go on as scheduled.

Because of the high temperatures, it may become uncomfortable in certain buildings this afternoon. Therefore, we are providing discretion to managers and supervisors to release employees beginning around 4:00 p.m. If you are experiencing uncomfortable temperatures in your work setting, please be in touch with your manager or supervisor.

Please be aware:

> Our expectation is that classes and other academic activities will go forward as scheduled, and we are making operational decisions about electrical reductions in order to achieve this
> The early dismissal is not universal; the decision to dismiss early or cancel activities is at the discretion of managers and supervisors; we do not want employees to be in uncomfortably hot settings, but employees should not leave early without permission from their managers and supervisors
> Essential personnel may not be permitted to leave early; you should check with your manager or supervisor if you are an essential employee
> Employees who are dismissed early because of high workplace temperatures will be paid; all employees should expect to report to work as usual tomorrow morning
> If you are required to remain at work, an appropriate workplace temperature will be maintained to the greatest extent possible. Contact the Client Services Center at xxx-xxx-xxxx to report unacceptably high temperature

**WHAT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD DO**
Each of us can help respond to this exigency.

> Look for every opportunity to reduce electrical usage
> Shut off your lights if you have a window
> Use your shade to avoid allowing in more than the necessary light
> Shut off your lights and computer when you leave your office for more than a short period
> Shut off peripheral items if you are not using them: printers, speakers, etc.
> Make sure that all copiers are off or are in “power saver” mode if not being used

The high temperatures are expected to persist for another couple of days. We will continue to provide updates on developments through NYU’s Info Alert page: www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-andwellness/info-alerts.html.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

From: Provost David McLaughlin and Executive VP Michael Alfano
Date: Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Subject: Another Urgent Request from Con Ed to Reduce Electrical
Usage, and Impacts on NYU Facilities

Because of the persistent high temperatures, the city’s electrical grid continues to be under pressure. The University has once again today received an urgent request from the New York Independent Systems Operators on behalf of Con Edison to reduce its electrical usage, and NYU will again be complying.

Yesterday’s actions reduced our electrical usage by 15 – 20%, a significant achievement and a real help to city’s grid. We should strive to achieve even greater reductions today.

**IMPACT OF REDUCING ELECTRICAL USAGE**
As was the case yesterday, to respond to this request, NYU will be selectively shutting off or significantly reducing air conditioning in certain facilities, as air conditioning is an enormous electrical drain. NYU will also be shutting off unneeded lighting and shutting down elevators in building with redundant banks.

We are putting a priority on maintaining air conditioning in facilities where classes are held and research is conducted so that our academic mission can carry on; all faculty and students should expect their classes to meet and research activities to go on as scheduled.

Because of the high temperatures, it may become uncomfortable in certain buildings this afternoon. Therefore, we are providing discretion to managers and supervisors to release employees beginning around 4:00 p.m. If you are experiencing uncomfortable temperatures in your work setting, please be in touch with your manager or supervisor.

Once again, please be aware:

> Our expectation is that classes and other academic activities will go forward as scheduled, and we are making operational decisions about electrical reductions in order to achieve this
> The early dismissal is not universal; the decision to dismiss early or cancel activities is at the discretion of managers and supervisors; we do not want employees to be in uncomfortably hot settings, but employees should not leave early without permission from their managers and supervisors

> Essential personnel may not be permitted to leave early; you should check with your manager or supervisor if you are an essential employee

> Employees who are dismissed early because of high workplace temperatures will be paid; all employees should expect to report to work as usual tomorrow morning

> If you are required to remain at work or if you are in a classroom or research setting, an appropriate workplace temperature will be maintained to the greatest extent possible. Contact the Client Services Center at xxx-xxx-xxxx to report unacceptably high temperature

**WHAT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD DO**

Each of us can help respond to this exigency.

> Look for every opportunity to reduce electrical usage

> Shut off your lights if you have a window

> Use your shade to avoid allowing in more than the necessary sunshine

> Shut off your lights and computer when you leave your office for more than a short period

> Shut off peripheral items if you are not using them: printers, speakers, etc.

> Make sure that all copiers are off or are in “power saver” mode if not being used

The high temperatures are expected to persist for another couple of days. We have posted additional information on NYU’s Info Alert page, and we will continue to provide updates on developments there:
www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-andwellness/info-alerts.html .

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

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