Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

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Hall lighting was cut in half, with every other fixture beaming, and although it wasn't compulsory, many teachers taught their classes with alternating rows of lights turned off. The electric water coolers in the hall- ways were unplugged, and unless students cooperate and stop turning them on, the staff might be forced to remove the cording, caushing unnecessary tax dollars to be spent, said Berko. The temperature of hot water in the restrooms has been reduced 10 percent, along with the water pressure. Valley has also conserved on human energy, Berko said, explaining that timers were bought forthe lawn sprinklers which liberated his crew from the cumbersome task of watering themselves by turning on the individual systems. However, his staff has more work to do now than in the past. Continually search- ing for new ways to curtail energy con- sumption, they have discovered if fluores- cent light fixtures are kept clean and the tubes are removed when their ends start greying, this will provide 50 percent better lighting. During their investigation, the plant facilities staff have accumulated some helpful hints for administrators as well as students, said Berko, On bright sunny days, he suggests that 14 Thomas Rukivina prepares piping for a wall heater in one of the many campus bungalows. J.,- Turning down the air-conditioners to save on energy, George De Smet cuts back on the hungriest energy eater of all. Wayne Randall adiusts the hot water temperatures, while VC students learn to acclimatize to 68-degree temperatures.

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Dont For et to Yiirn the Li his The Beginning. Whereas some toothpastes can boast up to 20 percent fewer cavities, Valley Col- lege can boast of using 46 percent less energy. The state of California and the eighth district Community College Board of Trus- tees demanded a 20 percent energy reduc- tion, with Valley complying with and doubling the requested cutbacks as early as last April. Even with the addition of the new VVomen's Gym, Valley is still a district leader in curtailing energy consumption. A bulb-snatching corp of men, spear- headed by plant facilities director julian Berko, were the working nucleus who customized the school to accommodate the energy impoverished conditions that hit the state full force last fall. The plant facilities staff scoured the campus, scrubbing away all the superflu- ous energy being wasted on empty build- ings and by cutting down on the Broad- way-lighted hallways and the tropic- heated, arctic-cooled classrooms. Visual cutbacks were seen throughout the campus as the staff proceeded to replace 100-watt bulbs and fluorescent lamps with 75-watt lights. Heating and air-conditioning were used less frequently, and 68-degree tempera- tures reigned supreme throughout the college. Electrician Fred Ortiz replaces fluorescent tubes with tubes of less wattage to help cut back on energy consumption. I3

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3? 1 ---L......,. George Palovitch works on the electronic lighting control circuits throughout the campus. teachers turn off the two rows of lighting nearest the windows, asserting that avail- able lighting would be sufficient for class- room procedures. Primarily, Berko emphasized, the staff would like to equip the rooms with light and heating timers regulated on an hourly basis, supplying forgetful faculty members with an insurance policy so the energy rates won't go up. lt's become the staff's second nature to turn out any lights in rooms that are unused, said Herko. Currently, custodians only light the room they are working in during the after-hours cleanup, while the rest of the building is dark. Even with utility cost increases, we feel that with our conservation programs, we are holding the line on our energy expen- ditures, said Berko, emphasizing that the upcoming sweltering summer months would prove to be the hungriest energy eaters ol all. Valley Colleges president, Dr. Robert Horton, was among the first to experience a lighting reduction in his office, and the faculty had to tote home some of their convenient, yet energy-eating, appli- ances. lierko is very optimistic because of the cooperation received from all. Oh, but lust one more thing, he said ' Don't forget to turn off the lights. ll fi i i i 4 , l i 5 Julian Berko, plant facilities director, discusses areas for possible energy cutbacks with electrician Fred Ortiz. i...A UUIE sit? I 3 '