The College has decided that more than 1,000 student-owned halogen lamps must be removed from residence halls before Fall term, raising questions about whether the Office of Residential Life will be able to adequately light students' dim dorm rooms.
Many halogen lamps can become dangerously hot, reaching temperatures up to 1,200 degrees farenheit. Brown University also decided to ban the lamps, after they were blamed for two dormitory fires in a period of a few months.
Halogen bulbs have been implicated in at least 30 fires and two deaths in the United States, and a halogen bulb caused a roll of tape to ignite at Dartmouth when it was dropped into the bowl of a lamp. The fire, which occurred in Lord Residence Hall, caused no significant damage.
Students will have until the beginning of Fall term to remove the torchiere-style lamps from their rooms. Students who violate the ban could face $50 fines and confiscation of the lamps.
Director of Residential Operations Woody Eckels acknowledged that the College's residence halls are insufficiently lit, but said the College plans to spend $100,000 renovating lighting in 29 buildings this summer. The money saved by banning halogen bulbs -- which are not energy efficient -- could be enough to fund the renovation.
Eckels said the College will replace the insufficient 22-watt, round fluorescent light fixtures with wider, 80-watt fluorescent bulbs.
When Brown banned halogen lamps earlier this year, the University offered $10 for each lamp a student turned in to officials. But Eckles said Dartmouth does not plan to conduct a buy-back.
Students who own halogen lamps can take them home before Fall term or give them to residence hall custodians, who will make sure the lamp is disposed of or recycled.
Jacqueline Johnson '00 said the ban is unfortunate, especially because the College recommended halogen lamps in a mailing to the Class of 2000 last summer.
ORL will issue a list of approved lighting appliances before the end of the Spring term, Eckels said. The College also plans to offer some of the approved lamps to students at reduced rates.
