Office of Energy Management

Before the start of Intersession Energy Savings Initiative, please read through the materials posted on this website and contact Indu, Energy Officer, at 518-442-3183 or [email protected] if you have any questions/concerns.

• Be sure your Card Access is active so you can enter the building(s) where you plan to work.
• Talk to your supervisor about your work assignment and location and/or any vacation time off during this period.
• Make sure all the windows are closed and latched. Close the shades or blinds in rooms that are not going to be occupied during Intersession.
• Turn off lights, computer peripherals, and projectors and shutdown/unplug other plugged-in devices in classrooms, labs, and conference rooms that will not be used during the Intersession period.
• Shutdown/unplug any special equipment/device that can be safely turned off and is not required during the Intersession period.
• Make sure to turn off lights and unplug desktop printers, task lighting, chargers and other plugged-in devices in your own office, especially if you will be away from your office for an extended duration.
• Clean out refrigerators in the break room and unplug if not needed.
• Close the sash on fume hoods when not in use. Make sure no chemicals or hazardous materials and stored under the hoods.
• If you have any concerns/questions about this Initiative or would like to request exemption from the Initiative for your space/building due to mission-critical work that cannot be performed remotely or at an alternate location on campus, or know of additional opportunity for energy savings, please contact Indu, Energy Officer, at 518-442-3183 or [email protected].

2025-2026 Calendar

The 2025-2026 Intersession Energy Savings Initiative will be held from Wednesday, December 17, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026. 

Note: Fall 2025 final exams end on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Residence halls close on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, and reopen on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Spring 2026 classes begin on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Energy Conservation Periods

• Wednesday, December 17, to Friday, December 19, 2025
• Monday, December 22, to Tuesday, December 23, 2025
• Monday, January 5, to Friday, January 9, 2026
• Monday, January 12, to Friday, January 16, 2026

Limited Operations Periods

• Saturday, December 20, to Sunday, December 21, 2025
• Wednesday, December 24, to Wednesday, December 31, 2025
• Thursday, January 1, to Sunday, January 4, 2026
• Saturday, January 10, to Sunday, January 11, 2026
• Saturday, January 17, to Sunday, January 18, 2026

Download a PDF version of the 2025-2026 Intersession Energy Savings Initiative Calendar.

General Service Levels

• Heat:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: All occupied areas maintained at normal temperatures (68 degrees Fahrenheit) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. Temperatures set back (55 degrees Fahrenheit) in unoccupied areas and during off-hours.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Temperature set back to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Refer to building specific schedule for exemptions.
• Air Handlers / Exhaust:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: On from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only or per building schedule. Certain labs operational 24/7. Units serving unoccupied spaces turned off.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Units turned off.
• Interior Lights: Normal lighting in private spaces controlled by occupant as needed, reduced lighting in hallway, lobby and stairs. Lighting off in Lecture Centers, classrooms, tower penthouses and other common areas not in use.
• Power: Power on as normal. Breakers shut off to known unoccupied areas only. Stress University community to unplug when not in use.
• Space Heaters: Strictly prohibited.
• Domestic Hot Water: On from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. Unites serving unoccupied spaces turned off.
• Exterior Lights: Site lighting at normal operation. Athletic field and court lights off.
• Building Access: Card swipe only.
• University Library:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: Open to public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Closed.
• Event Scheduling: For events scheduled outside of building operating hours, review with Indu, Energy Officer. Contact Indu at 518-442-3183 or [email protected].
• Dining Services: Limited. Visit the University Auxiliary Services website for more information.
• Athletics & Recreation Facilities: Same as posted schedule.
• Residence Halls: Normal operations in occupied areas. Lighting / power shut down and low temperatures only in unoccupied areas. Back to normal operations on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Building-level Plans

All buildings will resume normal operations at or before 8 a.m. January 19, 2026.

• Except where noted below, "Limited" indicates normal heating, lighting, ventilation and domestic
  hot water services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Energy Conservation Period only.
• During all other times and if marked "Closed" below, heating reduced to as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit with reduced public area lighting and no mechanical air movement.
• Throughout Intersession, buildings may be closed to public. Faculty and staff are still able to access offices/spaces via card swipes.
• Space heaters, except those issued by Facilities, are prohibited.

Uptown Campus

• 511 Building: Excluded/Normal Operation
• Alumni House: Excluded/Normal Operation
• Arts and Science: Limited
• Biology: Ventilation and exhaust systems on 24/7. Space temperatures may be setback and domestic hot water shut off at nights and weekends. Lighting may be reduced in public spaces.
• Boor Sculpture Studio: Limited from December 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Normal operations are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday on other days.
• Broadview Arena: Normal operations 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in the arena, closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Office level limited except for games. Schedule adjusted for events.
• Campus Center Main and Student Activity Center: Limited from December 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Normal operations are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Resume normal operations on January 17, 2026. Kitchen and dining areas closed.
• Campus Center Ballroom: Closed
• Campus Center East: Closed
• Campus Center West: Limited, except 518 Market open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 17 to 23, 2025, and January 5 to 16, 2026. Adjusted for event from 5 to 9 p.m. December 19, 2025, in Auditorium and Great Hall.
• Catskill (Building 27): Limited. Normal operations in following spaces only: Mail Services & Rapid Copy and Southwest side of building: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Manual override on thermostat provides normal heating in two-hour increments.
• Chemistry: Ventilation and exhaust systems on 24/7. Space temperatures may be setback and domestic hot water shut off at nights and weekends. Lighting may be reduced in public spaces.
• ETEC: Ventilation and exhaust systems on 24/7. Temperature and airflow setback automatically when space is unoccupied.
• Fine Arts: Limited from December 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Normal operations are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on all other days, open to public 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Temperatures maintained at minimum 65 degrees Fahrenheit for artwork. Grounds excluded/normal operation.
• Health Center (Dutch Quad): Limited
• Hudson (Building 25): Limited. Manual override on thermostat provides normal heating in 2-hour increments
• Humanities: Limited. Space heaters provided for FMOC.
• Ion Beam Lab: Closed
• ITB (office area only): Normal operations 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
• Lecture Center: Lecture Halls closed except for scheduled events. Concourse and sub-basement spaces limited. Lighting may be reduced in public spaces.
• LSRB: Ventilation and exhaust systems on 24/7. Space temperatures may be setback and domestic hot water shut off at nights and weekends. Lighting may be reduced in public spaces. Auditorium closed.
• Massry Center (Business Building): Limited, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from January 5, 2026.
• MSC: Excluded/normal operation
• Parking Management: Limited
• Performing Arts: Limited. Adjusted for scheduled events
• Physical Education: Normal operations 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, closed December 24 and 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Schedule adjusted for events.
• Physics: Ventilation and exhaust systems on 24/7. Space temperatures may be setback and domestic hot water shut off at nights and weekends. Lighting may be reduced in public spaces.
• Pine Bush: Limited. Space heater provided for CK313.
• Power Plant: Normal operations 24/7.
• Science Library: Limited. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to public during energy conservation period. 24/7 normal operations in Third Floor Preservation and Special Collection.
• Service Building A and Annex: Normal operations 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
• Social Science: Limited. Normal operations in Facilities shop areas and North half of building only, 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
• Stadium: Closed
• Taconic: Limited
• UAB: Excluded/Normal Operation
• University Hall: Limited
• University Library: Limited. Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to public during energy conservation period; lighting may be reduced in certain spaces.
• UPD: Normal operations 24/7.

Residential Buildings

• Alumni Quad: Normal 24/7 operations only in Alden and Waterbury Halls and RD apartments. Other buildings closed. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• Colonial Quad: Normal 24/7 operations only in Hamilton, Herkimer, Morris, Paine and
  Zenger Halls and RD apartments. Other buildings closed. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• Dutch Quad: Normal 24/7 operations only in Beverwyck, Schuyler, Ten Broeck, Ten
  Eyck, Van Cortland and Van Ren Halls and RD apartments. Other buildings closed. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026. See Health Center for its schedule.
• Indigenous Quad: Normal 24/7 operations only in Adirondack, Cayuga, Mahican, Montauk and Seneca Halls and RD apartments. Other buildings, including dining and kitchens, closed. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• State Quad: Normal 24/7 operations only in Fulton, Irving, Tappan and Witman only
  and RD apartments. Other buildings, including dining and kitchens, closed. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• Empire Commons: Normal 24/7 operation. Temperatures in unoccupied units might be setback. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• Freedom Apartments: Normal 24/7 operation. Temperatures in unoccupied units might be setback. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.
• Liberty Terrace: Normal 24/7 operation. Temperatures in unoccupied units might be setback. All buildings will resume normal operations by noon on January 16, 2026.

Downtown Campus

• CNSE: Excluded/Normal Operation
• Dewey Library (Hawley): Closed
• Draper: Limited
• Husted: Closed
• Milne: Limited
• Page Hall: Closed
• Richardson: Limited

Download a PDF version of the 2025-2026 Building-level Information.

2026-2027 Calendar

The 2026-2027 Intersession Energy Savings Initiative is tentatively scheduled from Wednesday, December 16, 2026, to Sunday, January 17, 2026.

Note: Fall 2026 final exams end on Tuesday, December 15, 2026. Residence halls close on Wednesday, December 16, 2026, and reopen on Sunday, January 17, 2027. Spring 2027 classes begin on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.

Energy Conservation Periods

• Wednesday, December 16, to Friday, December 18, 2026
• Monday, December 21, to Wednesday, December 23, 2026
• Monday, January 4, to Friday, January 8, 2027
• Monday, January 11, to Friday, January 15, 2027

Limited Operations Periods

• Saturday, December 19, to Sunday, December 20, 2026
• Thursday, December 24, to Thursday, December 31, 2026
• Friday, January 1, to Sunday, January 3, 2027
• Saturday, January 9, to Sunday, January 10, 2027
• Saturday, January 16, to Sunday, January 17, 2027

Download a PDF version of the Tentative 2026-2027 Intersession Energy Savings Initiative Calendar.

Service Levels

• Heat:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: All occupied areas maintained at normal temperatures (68 degrees Fahrenheit) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. Temperatures set back (55 degrees Fahrenheit) in unoccupied areas and during off-hours.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Temperature set back to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Refer to building specific schedule for exemptions.
• Air Handlers / Exhaust:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: On from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only or per building schedule. Certain labs operational 24/7. Units serving unoccupied spaces turned off.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Units turned off.
• Interior Lights: Normal lighting in private spaces controlled by occupant as needed, reduced lighting in hallway, lobby and stairs. Lighting off in Lecture Centers, classrooms, tower penthouses and other common areas not in use.
• Power: Power on as normal. Breakers shut off to known unoccupied areas only. Stress University community to unplug when not in use.
• Space Heaters: Strictly prohibited.
• Domestic Hot Water: On from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. Unites serving unoccupied spaces turned off.
• Exterior Lights: Site lighting at normal operation. Athletic field and court lights off.
• Building Access: Card swipe only.
• University Library:
  • Energy Conservation Periods: Open to public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Limited Operations Periods: Closed.
• Event Scheduling: For events scheduled outside of building operating hours, review with Indu, Energy Officer. Contact Indu at 518-442-3183 or [email protected].
• Dining Services: Limited. Visit the University Auxiliary Services website for more information.
• Athletics & Recreation Facilities: Same as posted schedule.
• Residence Halls: Normal operations in occupied areas. Lighting / power shut down and low temperatures only in unoccupied areas. Back to normal operations on Saturday, January 16, 2025.