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access for the handicapped and to correct unsafe conditions. Major renovations of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in the older buildings also are needed in order to accommodate environmental requirements for the preservation of the Institution's collections. New facilities, particularly at the field activities, and thorough reviews of plans for the Museum Support Center are other priorities requiring services.

Meeting the Institution's utilities costs for current buildings and programs continues to represent the primary additional resources requirement of the plant services function for the next several years. Utilities costs will amount to about $8,600,000 in FY 1979 and are expected to be around $17,000,000 by FY 1985 (including the Museum Support Center), an increase largely attributable to rate increases. This increase would be much larger without energy conservation measures. In managing the Institution's utilities, priority consideration must be given to the protection of exhibits, exotic animals and valuable objects, many of which require special environmental conditions. Energy conservation is pursued in all activities and includes the following efforts: lighting levels are being reduced in work spaces, and wherever possible, in public areas; heating and air conditioning systems are operated at the minimum levels required to prevent damage to the collections; fans and other heavy consumers of electricity have been shut down during nonpublic hours; major air conditioning systems are phased into operation to keep the peak demand rates to a minimum; and where possible, utilities distribution equipment is being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency.

The installation of a computerized power management system during FY 1975-1978 now minimizes costly peak load demand rates. The preventive maintenance system will be effective in all buildings by the end of FY 1979, and the computerized equipment monitoring system is expected to be effective in all buildings by the end of 1979. By systematizing the maintenance of the buildings' mechanical systems and by computerizing functions that had been performed manually, these systems will permit the redirection by FY 1980 of about 25 man-years of staff effort in support of the preventive maintenance operations. This redirection of existing manpower will help to limit the requirement for new staff for regular operations to such areas as materials and vehicle management and work controls and general management. 

Significant additional staff and related financial resources will be required only for the Museum Support Center, beginning in FY 1982. About 50 new employees will be required to operate the building's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems and to provide maintenance, repair, and custodial services. This staff and operating equipment and supplies will cost about $800,000 by FY 1985. In addition, full-year costs for utilities (telephone, mail, electricity, steam and gas) are expected to be about $700,000 in FY 1983, and about $850,000 by FY 1985 (assuming a 10% escalation rate per year).