THOMASIANS MAY soon walk through campus grounds with automatic light fixtures as the University is planning to install motion sensor lights in all its public restrooms and streetlights to boost its energy efficiency efforts.
Installations of motion-activated lights in other shared spaces, such as classrooms and offices, may also be considered in the future, the UST Facilities Management Office (FMO) said.
“The initial focus is on restrooms, but there are already plans to expand the use of motion sensors, starting with streetlights. Since we are taking this endeavor by phase, further installations in classrooms, offices, and other common areas are not yet being discussed, but we may consider it in the future,” an FMO official who requested anonymity told The Flame in an interview.
The FMO first installed the sensors in the newly renovated restrooms at the Main Building in December last year. University-wide installations are already ongoing, the engineer said.
Other restrooms already equipped with motion-activated lights include those at the UST Grandstand and beside the Santisimo Rosario Parish church.
An automatic lighting system, the official said, has proven to be an “effective” solution for cutting down unnecessary energy consumption in restrooms.
“We observed that some public restrooms were being left open for extended periods, with lights and exhaust systems running unnecessarily,” he said.
According to the official, the newly installed lights were also cost-effective and only required a “straightforward” process by integrating the sensors with existing lighting systems.
“[I]t is well established that limiting the time lights remain on, compared to leaving them on throughout the day, significantly reduces energy consumption and costs. Considering that the motion sensor and its installation aren’t that cost-demanding, we are confident that it has been efficient for us,” he said.
“Implementation has also been easier since it is being carried out alongside restroom renovations, minimizing disruptions and ensuring a seamless transition.”
In 2024, UST was able to reduce its energy consumption to 3.79%, meeting the 3.33% annual target. However, the figure is significantly lower than the overall accumulated savings in 2023 at 8.38%.
Conversion of lights to LED, the use of inverter air-conditioning and building energy audits are among FMO’s ongoing initiatives to improve sustainability. F
