All Memorial University campuses and facilities on the Island of Newfoundland will remain closed for all students, faculty, staff and clients until Wednesday, Jan. 8, to support provincial energy conservation efforts.

In addition to the extended closure, the university has advised Newfoundland Power that it is taking a number of other measures to reduce the institution’s power usage from the provincial grid, including:

· The Ocean Science Centre (Marine Lab) in Logy Bay has been switched to emergency power (800 KW)

· The following buildings have been moved to generators: Earth Sciences (350 KW), Education (300KW) and Queen Elizabeth II Library (100 KW).

· The South Campus generator (500 KW) will be switched on at 5 p.m. Sunday as part of a planned power outage to enable transformer upgrades. This project is proceeding as planned.

· Math (230 KW) will also switch at 5 p.m.

These measures are expected to take 2,280 MW off Newfoundland Power’s grid.

The university continues to explore other options to assist the power shortage situation.

Update on the university’s re-opening will be provided prior to Wednesday at www.mun.ca, on Twitter by following @MemorialU, on Memorial’s Newline service and via local media.

Residence will remain open.