San Beda's energy efficiency efforts drive student awareness

Practicing energy efficiency and sustainability efforts in schools present many advantages. Aside from environmental benefits, adopting sustainable practices on power use in the campus will reduce cost and instill proper values among the students. 

In 2013, the 45-year-old San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) in Muntinlupa implemented an energy-efficiency campaign that demonstrated how simple actions gave rise to significant improvements in the quality of campus life as a whole. 

Changing for the better

The school reached out to their Meralco Relationship Manager. Energy solutions engineers conducted an energy audit, visiting San Beda’s premises to perform a detailed inspection of facilities and equipment, which included its electrical lines and systems, its lighting and air conditioning. The Meralco engineers carefully checked the entire school compound before coming up with recommendations on energy management opportunities.      

Using less power for a more cooling effect, modern inverter-type air conditioners replaced the older conventional air conditioners. Old lights gave way to newer, brighter, power-saving and more effective LED lights. To keep the heat out and optimize air conditioning, windows were tinted and blinds were installed. A steady thermostat control kept the temperature in optimal levels at all times, ensuring a cool environment conducive to learning. San Beda’s improved Energy Intensity Index (EII) numbers show that the campus is more energy efficient. The lower the EII, the more efficient. The use of electricity remained at manageable figures even as the new enrollee population grew.  

These consolidated efforts lowered energy consumption by 70,000-kilowatt hours for academic year 2014-2015 — translating to almost P500,000 savings in annual electricity costs. Thus, school fees remain competitive and students were increasingly aware of the social, economic and environmental advantages of better energy efficiency.

“Meralco helped us, assisted us in controlling and managing our tuition fees and expenses. We are all very happy because we saw the drastic difference and the lowering of our electrical consumption. More importantly, our students will also inculcate the values of energy management so they can help, not only in the society and our school but also they can apply it at their homes. And help their parents save from their expenses,” says San Beda Alabang Finance, Administration and General Services director Fr. Aelred Nilo.

Tailor-fit energy solutions and services for your business

Meralco joins San Beda in its journey toward energy efficiency. Meralco always strives to understand and address the varied and diverse energy requirements of its customers. Its century of experience in the energy industry gave it its unique position to provide corporate customers with end-to-end energy solutions that can enhance a company’s competitiveness.

Meralco’s Power Ideas program was designed to help its corporate customers achieve operational efficiency by offering four key energy solutions on Power Quality, Energy efficiency, Energy Supply and Innovations.

To learn more about Power Ideas, visit http://corporatepartners.meralco.com.ph/powerideas, email [email protected], or call the business hotline at (02) 16210.