Penn students living in on-campus residential buildings have reported discomfort with high temperatures since the University switched central temperature control systems from air conditioning to heating last month.

The Quadrangle, high-rises and Gutmann College House went fully heated on October 22. As the unseasonably warm weather continued into November, with temperatures occasionally topping 80 degrees Fahrenheit, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with students who said the switch to heating has taken place. they made their dormitories too hot and uncomfortable to live in.

Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance Faramarz Vakili wrote in a statement to DP that at any given time in the dormitory buildings, “the fan coil units, which are the heating/cooling units in each room, can be connected to either cold water for cooling. or hot water for heating.”

“Each season, the transition process from cooling to heating (or vice versa) takes several days to complete for college houses,” Vakili wrote. “The timing decision to switch these modes is made based on temperature forecasts and historical data, but there may be unexpected temperature fluctuations in secondary seasons.”

He added that students can turn off their fan when temperatures are high or submit a work ticket if the room remains unusually warm.

Wharton freshman Carys Martinez, who lives in the Quad, said the heat in her dorm has affected her mood throughout the day, especially when she wakes up sweaty or returns to her room after a long day.

“I have to go up four flights of stairs because I’m in McKean, and McKean doesn’t have elevators,” Martinez said. “I want to be greeted by a breeze, but it’s just heat and my fan.”

Martinez noted that she was thankful she brought a fan with her to Penn, unlike some of her friends who don’t have fans or windows that open properly to cool their living spaces.

College sophomore Katherine Chacon said the heat has kept her from being as productive in the Harnwell halls, where she studies most of the time. She added that the heat also affected her sleep quality.

“I’m someone who needs my room to be cool to sleep,” Chacon said. “If it’s too hot, then my nose gets stuffy and I just can’t breathe.”

Chacon said he tried leaving his windows open as a workaround. However, the trade-off was the disturbing noises of traffic and passing cars, which once caused her to wake up at 5am to close her windows.

Henry Li, a second-year student who lives in College House at Radian, recalled that he went to Rodin College House on the roof to study and had to leave within ten minutes because of the heat.

“I can’t imagine having to live in this,” Li said.

The switch from AC to heating didn’t directly affect Li because Radian residents can adjust the thermostat in their rooms. However, he noted that the change has affected many of his friends who live in high-rise buildings, driving them to the library or other students’ rooms “to avoid the heat.”

Despite the student outcry, Martinez said he understood why the University had not indicated they would restart AC. She noted that with the large temperature swing of the past few weeks, Residential Services would have to switch between AC and heat every few days.

The students concerns previously expressed about high temperatures in dormitories in the fall of 2021 after the University switched to heating systems in mid-October.