The replacement of 1,472 windows and outside doors in Reavis, Watson and Zulauf halls will take place this summer, costing about $3,150,000 according to Bob Albanese, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities.

The project will be paid for over a 10-year period with the money coming from energy savings and operational savings. The difference, estimated at possibly a couple hundred thousand dollars, will be made up by the regular budget, said Albanese. However, the first payment will not be made until July 2007.

Energy savings will be accrued from these more energy-efficient windows. The new windows, which will open, provide a tighter seal against weather conditions.

They are also made from a better glass than the previous windows which will keep the rooms from reaching extreme hot or cold temperatures, so the air-conditioning and heaters do not have to work as hard, Albanese said.

“With the ability to open the windows, you can regulate temperature which leads to better comfort for the occupants and overall energy savings,” Albanese said.

Money will also come from operational savings. Because the previous windows and doors were so old, they often required repairs. The money saved from not having to repair the windows and doors will help pay for the new ones.

Replacement will begin in May and end in October, but the bulk of the work will be done by August. However, the 1,047 summer courses, according to Registration and Records, offered in various campus buildings will not be affected.

“We will speak with individual departments to work around classes scheduled in the buildings,” Albanese said.

The work will be done around the summer schedule with the goal that classes will not have to be moved or disturbed by the noise.

All classrooms to be used over the summer will have the work done either before the start of summer classes or after classes have ended.

The main complaint in these buildings is it’s not easy to regulate temperature in the summer or winter because they are closed buildings, Albanese said.

He is hopeful with these changes, not only will the rooms keep more comfortable temperatures, but the university will save money with these more energy-efficient windows.

Gary Burns, a communication professor who has taught in Watson and Reavis halls, acknowledges sometimes the temperature can be a problem when it comes to teaching, but is optimistic about the new windows.

“I think it would be nice to have windows that open,” Burns said.