On a frigid winter day, you know that you’ll be immediately relieved by the HVAC systems set to a comfortable temperature after a brisk walk from the parking lot. And when you get in an elevator or sit at your desk to power on your computer, there’s likely no concern crossing your mind that these machines won’t work. You’ll be able to power your day to carry out the tasks you need for conducting research, writing papers, or checking departmental accounts. As you handle day-to-day responsibilities, there are many humans and well-maintained machines behind the scenes that set the tone of your day to ensure our campus has the tools and resources necessary to carry out Notre Dame’s mission. While many talented individuals sit at the helm of operating campus, one of the leadership team members of Utilities & Maintenance, Mark Hummel, is busy at work proactively planning for Notre Dame’s energy future so that you don’t have to.
Mark Hummel is the Senior Director for Utilities and Maintenance on campus. Originally hired as a mechanical engineer, he’s dedicated over 30 years of service to Notre Dame and has seen the many evolutionary changes in Utilities and Maintenance for the University. Some of Mark’s primary responsibilities include overseeing the maintenance activities on campus and managing a group of engineers that support campus, from design and construction to daily operations. Within the broad scope of responsibilities, Mark is intimately involved in the planning process for the diverse energy projects of the power plant, including the expansion of geothermal, solar, and the hydroelectric facility. The engineering team also works to improve efficiencies for lighting, HVAC, heat recovery, and other energy standards to reduce Notre Dame’s overall utility consumption. “There’s a lot of planning and effort that happens behind the scenes to ensure campus is running smoothly,” reports Mark. “We plan proactive maintenance activities that are conducted by our staff as well as specialized external contractors to prevent problems from occurring.”
Mark is passionate about the work he carries out for Notre Dame, saying, “What I enjoy most about our energy sources is the variety. Compared to most other universities, we have a wide range of energy sources that play into our sustainability and carbon reduction strategies. Each different source interrelates with another, which makes the overall operation quite interesting.” Mark explains, “Some universities might have a basic combined heat and power cycle. We have intentionally diversified the energy portfolio of systems that supply campus so we can efficiently provide more sustainable energy to campus.”
While Mark and his team of engineers are dedicated to reducing energy consumption on campus and ensuring that the lights come on each day, everyone has an important role to play in meeting our campus goals. “Even with proactive maintenance, equipment can still break down at times. Campus constituents can help our staff by reporting issues as soon as a change in operation is noticed. Early detection helps ensure that the systems on campus are running smoothly and developing issues can be addressed before they impact service. We’re here to serve the needs of our students, faculty, and staff, and be part of the mission of a preeminent Catholic university. For the students and faculty to achieve their goals, our staff has to ensure we have excellent maintenance services, and reliable, cost-effective, sustainable utilities to ensure they can carry out their important work.”
To further reduce campus’ energy consumption and support Utilities and Maintenance efforts, Mark recommends conserving energy just like you would at home: shut off appliances, lights, and equipment when they’re not in use. The Notre Dame community can also support the temperature controls of campus in automated buildings and dress in layers to be more comfortable in the office no matter the season.
If you need to report an issue on campus, submit an AiM work request. Note that you must be connected to the VPN or eduroam to access the site.
Originally published by at green.nd.edu on February 03, 2025.