THOMASIANS WILL soon experience greater flexibility in using their mobile devices for studying as UST plans to install solar charging stations in gazebos around the campus.
The stations may be used by all Thomasians for free and will cater to mobile and small-scale devices, the UST Facilities Management Office (FMO) said.
“The [solar charging stations] are free. We don’t have the specific placements yet aside from the gazebos… But as much as possible, scattered around the campus so the students will be serviced,” an FMO official who requested anonymity told The Flame in an interview.
The solar charging stations, which are already earmarked in the University’s budget, will contain high-capacity batteries to withstand changes in weather and seasonality, the official said.
“So even if the weather is slightly bad, it (solar charging station) still has a stored battery to provide charging power to our devices,” he added.
The official gave an assurance that the stations would still be able to generate solar power during overcast weather.
“What we’re aiming for is even if the sun isn’t very bright, even if it is lightly cloudy, it will still charge,” he said.
Similar to the university-wide installation of motion sensor lights, the solar charging stations are part of the University’s broader efforts to improve energy efficiency.
READ: Motion sensor lights to be installed in all UST restrooms, streetlights
Other efforts of the FMO to enhance sustainability are conversion of lights to LED, the use of inverter air-conditioning and building energy audits. F
