The 91性息港 and UST Hospital held a joint Energy Forum to review and improve current practices in energy conservation measures (ECM) among the 27 Energy Accounting Centers (EACs) within the Manila campus. The discussion was held on May 23, 2024, at the Frassati Building鈥檚 Learning Studio 1.
With the theme 鈥淗arnessing synergy towards sustainability鈥�, the forum included an overview of historical milestones of UST鈥檚 Energy Management System (EnMS), a discussion of the guideline format of the working manual and tools, and a presentation of ongoing and new initiatives for saving energy within the campus including POWERWISE (person-oriented energy savings campaign) and Luntiang Tomasino.
Engr. Oliver Gagarin, author of the UST Sustainable Energy Management Systems Manual, introduced GRT-76, which refers to 鈥淕o! Renewable Time鈥� and the solar power harvest from 7 AM to 6 PM on selected building rooftops via the installation of solar panels.
As of 2024, solar panel installation has begun on top of the Albertus Magnus building, with the Fathers鈥� Residence compound, the UST Hospital Pope John Paul II Building, and the St. Raymund de Pe帽afort Building to follow next year. Steady work is planned for an eventual in-campus, independent, and renewable power supply through GRT-76.
Engr. Gagarin shared that 鈥渟mall appliances鈥� drew the highest load consumption. He also cautioned against the 鈥減hantom load鈥� or any electronics that remain plugged into the university power supply that still uses electricity or 鈥渟tandby power鈥� even when turned off.
This year, the USTH Clinical Division, the Main Building, and the Benavides Building had the most energy savings among the 27 EACs, while the USTH St. John Paul II Building, the Quadricentennial Pavilion, and the Frassati Building consumed the most power. The unprecedented recent heat index was also a contributing cause to the power consumption of the structures.
Assistant to the Rector for Information and Communications Technology Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua discussed how to help each energy accounting center (EAC) identify saving and conservation measures through the working manual and tools, namely, the operational guide, process map, work instruction, log sheet, and calculation sheet.
She also presented ongoing plans for an Energy Online Dashboard that can predict and visualize energy consumption among the 27 EACs, which is planned to be incorporated into the official portal dashboard.
This University initiative aligns with SDG 7 which calls for affordable and clean energy. The programs and activities discussed in the Energy Forum underscores the University鈥檚 goal to achieve energy efficiency (SDG 7.3) among all energy accounting centers.
In attendance were academic and administrative officials, academic staff, and support staff. The opening remarks were delivered by USTH Director for Administration Prof. Analin E. Porto, DEM, while UST Office for Grants, Endowments and Partnerships in Higher Education Director Rev. Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P. gave the closing remarks.
