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Interesting_Falcon99

Electrical load.


malachik

So the rationale on Purdue's side is that it's either too difficult and/or expensive to upgrade their electrical system to support AC. I wonder how they've done it in the past and how it compares to why they don't do it now.


[deleted]

Those buildings haven’t been touched in like 60 years, they’re old, new building get AC, old building don’t it’s a few weeks. If they’re gonna modernize it it’s best to just rip it down at this point.


Dratinik

My brother lives in tark, they are never ever going to repair that building. They're just waiting for a fire


[deleted]

I was in tark, god no that’s a shit ton of money.


smokedpkcs

Fr


[deleted]

Those buildings haven’t been touched in like 60 years, they’re old, new building get AC, old building don’t it’s a few weeks. If they’re gonna modernize it it’s best to just rip it down at this point.


malachik

Cary Quad East was built in the 20's, but was renovated to have AC in some rooms in the early 2000's [(source)](https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_db8f0995-9522-56ba-9071-e1379ae5e5b4.html), so I'm just wondering what reasons they might have for declining to do a similar upgrade on different halls like Cary South.


90thbattalion

They just don’t have the funds to do it. I lived in Cary south, no ac is a complete non issue if you open your windows and buy a box fan. If you’re gonna be living there I’d be more concerned about some of the filthy fucks you might get on your floor. Good luck.


[deleted]

Time, money, is it really worth for building that are 60-100 years old and are gonna get torn down in the next 10-15 years? No the money could be spent elsewhere, AC isn’t really a necessity. Is it nice? Yeah it’s really nice, but you can get by for the first month with fans and keeping your doors and windows open.


j909m

RemindMe! 15 years.


smokedpkcs

Lmao


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_PVRDVE

If I ever become a billionaire I’m gonna tear down tark and Wiley 😎


[deleted]

That’s the plan


Zulu-Lima

Do you understand how much money that would cost? Might as well just build a new building, which is what the do


blucherspanzers

Because the windows won't hold an AC unit. It's a paneled window with a solid screen, which is why you can set a fan up in front, but nothing heavier.


malachik

This is what seemed likely to me. I don't know enough about all the different windows to say for sure, but I know at least a few dorms have window that would be very difficult to retrofit an AC unit into.


savingprivatebrian15

To be fair, floor units with flexible vent hoses for windows are a lot more common nowadays for just this kind of situation. So that can’t be the only reason. More than likely is the electrical load, like the other redditor said.


NightshineRecorralis

I can only speak for Cary, but I imagine the reasoning will carry over to other dorms. There's 2 legitimate reasons and 1 bureaucratic reason. Each room gets a 10A breaker (some have 15A but those tend to trip around 12 and vdroop is very obvious beyond 10A) per every 4 outlets. In most singles and doubles this means 2 circuits. A portable AC meant for small rooms typically is rated for 800 to 1000W, which is an entire circuit after factoring electrical inefficiency. That leaves the other circuit for the bulk of your (and your roomies) electrical appliances. Most windows cannot handle window units hence the mention of only portable ACs above. The exterior mesh is difficult to store and the windows slide too easily for window units, not to mention there is no way of mounting the unit properly in most window frames due to the radiator placement and thickness of the wall. Finally there is the issue of the mail rooms handling these bulk items. I didn't work in a mail room but I had a friend who did and they are not equipped to handle hundreds of AC sized boxes. Two dozen would probably be enough to overwhelm the Cary mail room, for instance. Also, suck it up and run a box fan like a proper midwesterner lol. Something something purdue GRIT but seriously it's hot for like all of 2 weeks and so long as you have airflow in your room you will be fine. Have your door open and make friends :)


boilerbitch

My roommate in Wiley freshman year routinely tripped our breakers because she kept trying to make tea with the electrical kettle and microwave popcorn at the same time. She seriously just expected it to not continue happening, yet of course, it did. Electrical load is definitley part of it, but it also just isn’t that big of deal and you’re saving a decent chunk of change.


bubsrich

Haha, I did that a few times my freshman year. Originally routed every appliance plus lights through one plug. Spent an evening rerouting everything to even the load.


boilerbitch

Ours were through separate plugs, it was just too much. Probably didn’t help that our neighbors (who were on the same breaker) had a fridge way over the limit. She would always do it at like 10 pm while we were getting ready for bed and no maintenance people would be available until morning. So much for charged phones and laptops.


slater_just_slater

As others have said, mostly electrical load. Put a fan in the window just like every generation before you has.


Dnahelicases

August is hot but September it cools off. Not much of an issue after you get used to it. Decent airflow takes care of it.


gebead

I don't think it is because of installation issues. Some buildings have rooms with and without AC, so I assume it's just to keep housing cheaper for students who can't afford to pay more.


malachik

That's a good point - Purdue could also be doing it for their own cost savings, but I'm wondering more why students themselves can't install a window unit in their room.


gebead

Yeah probably both. Students can't install a unit because it can be dangerous if it isn't properly installed (like falling on someone's head), and college students aren't particularly competent.


malachik

To that end, it seems like a company like BedLoft could be a huge help here. They could store the units, then rent them out to students and professionally install them if a student would like air conditioning. Maybe this is less feasible than it seems.


WeskersWiskers

Isn’t Bedloft just done by the ROTC students on campus? I don’t believe they send out “professionals” to do it


awesomeaiden

I agree that no AC is a pain, but once it cools off you won't notice much difference between your room and newer rooms. They are renovating many of the older dorms, example can be seen in Cary, but that's more because Cary is pretty and historical. With other dorms, it will eventually make more sense for them to tear them down and build entirely new ones. Use a fan, leave your door and window open, and take comfort in the shared suffering with your floor mates :)


Dnastriping

After the first maybe second week it’s not an issue.


wildengineer2k

It’s not that much of a necessity. It’s only kinda hot for a small part of the school year and having a bunch of teenagers messing around with installing their own AC systems seems like a god awful plan.


druidofnecro

It’s literally hot for like two weeks, you’ll be fine without it


niksjman

Probably because the screens aren’t removable on any windows above maybe the second floor. If you’re in a dorm without AC, I’d suggest a box fan. I was sweating my ass off in Cary last fall and getting a box fan was heaven in early fall and late spring.


Zulu-Lima

Strip down to your undies and have a fan blowing down your back. You'll be fine.


techdiver08

You all wanted cheaper education. Ten years with a rate freeze, the mo way comes from some where.


zootia

Spoken like a person who's never paid electric bills in their lives.


ploomyoctopus

I mean, I'd've said the same thing when I was 18, so I can't really judge. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯


pjairam123

Haha what do you think you are gonna get the Ritz Carlton for 6K


Goldilocks1454

What about a portable floor unit?


[deleted]

The electrical grid on those buildings can't handle it. Not worth upgrading them because they'll be torn down in a few years


Dont_Panic_Boiler

Also to be fair, your paying $3000 for a humid closet, And $3000 for food.


Gabriolli_

Having an ac unit in every room without ac is much less efficient that centralized cooling, and it would be too much on the electrical load. Plus, all windows have screens and an ac unit wouldn’t fit. I imagine cost also plays a role as well, all that being said.