The chilling winter winds have been hitting students in the face for the past month, but the below-freezing temperatures have also begun to hit Binghamton University’s budget as well.

Physical Facilities Communications Specialist Karen Fennie has sent out two emails this semester urging students to try to conserve energy this winter because energy prices have reached $200 per megawatt hour, which is $150 over the usual rate. A megawatt hour is the equivalent of using one million watts of electricity continuously for an hour.

Communications Manager of NYSEG Clayton Ellis said that this year, the Binghamton area’s megawatt usage peaked at 3,043 on Jan. 14, just under last year’s peak of 3,095 on Jan. 7. According to the National Weather Service, this will likely be the coldest February in Binghamton history and the second-coldest winter month on record.

While the University frequently calls for energy conservation in the summer season when the power grid is stressed by the heat, Fennie said that Physical Facilities did not send out an email last year during the polar vortex when energy prices were up to $400 per megawatt hour. According to Utilities Manager Sandy DeJohn, Physical Facilities did not choose to send such an email because they did not believe it would last as long as this winter is predicted to last.

This year, according to DeJohn, BU avoided an extreme energy bill by sealing older buildings that had previously leaked significant amounts of heat. The University also uses sensors in dorms and other buildings to determine whether they are sufficiently heated.

Mark Blumler, a geography professor who is teaching a weather and climate class, said that these conditions are uncommon. He explained that while it is not definite, many researchers believe this cold winter is caused by polar outbreaks, or cold air from Siberia. Usually, cold air stays at that latitude or comes down once or twice, but this year the air has traveled south several times.

DeJohn said that students can help to conserve energy by limiting hot water usage, unplugging appliances when they are not using them and, most importantly, keeping windows closed.

“When you open the window, and we see a temperature decrease, we crank up the heat,” DeJohn said. “It kind of defeats the whole purpose.”

While Fennie said BU keeps the dorms at a standard 68 to 70 degrees, Lisa Nowak, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, said that her dorm room in College-In-the-Woods is too hot, although she did not know what the exact temperature was.

“I definitely think the heating in some of the buildings, especially in the dorms, are just maxed out and, if reduced, we could save a lot of energy, oil and money,” Nowak said. “Honestly, I’m always having my window open because it’s very hot in there.”

Grace Clark, a freshman majoring in industrial engineering who lives in Delaware Hall in Newing College, also said that the temperature in her dorm was sporadic and more often hot than cold.

“It’s different for me in the morning and evening,” Clark said. “I think in the morning it’s very cold and in the evening it’s warmer. I sleep in a T-shirt and shorts.”