Van Lang University saves VND 60 million on energy annually

28/10/2011

People-founded Van Lang University base 2 (Ho Chinh Minh City) has an area of nearly 5,000m2 with 400 teachers who train 11,000 students per year. With that scale, each month, the school consumes an average of 38,000 kWh of electricity. This is costly for an institution outside the public sector. To minimize energy costs, respond to the power saving movement of the city, since the beginning of 2009, the school has deployed various energy efficient solutions.

Representative of the school, Mr. Le Van Si - Head of School Service Office 4 said: "The school, with all staff, teachers and students, has continually learned and approached new technologies to improve power consumption systems as well as enhance the role of energy management to reduce power consumption of the school. After a year, with efforts from all sides, we have saved 13% of total energy consumption compared to previous years when the school had not improved the management of energy consumption. Each year, the school saves about VND 58,857,000 on electric bills".

People-founded Van Lang University has implemented a number of key measures such as gradually replacing 1.2m T10 fluorescent lamps (40W) fluorescent lamps with energy saving 1.2m T8 lamps (36W) in classrooms, offices and function rooms. The school has also replaced 2HP Toshiba one-stage air conditioners, which are frequently damaged, with 2HP Toshiba two-stage air conditioners, which are more efficient, in the office area and function rooms. All copiers have been installed energy saving mode, and computers have been installed standby mode. CRT computer monitors have been replaced with LCD computer monitors

Realizing the importance of the construction and improvement of energy management process, the school has provided regulations on the working time of the lighting system and the air conditioning system in the office area; set the temperature in areas using air conditioners at 24oC – 26oC as prescribed; performed periodical maintenance for the air conditioning system.

In 2009, the school established an energy management group including related departments who were responsible for monitoring and managing energy consumption and curbing wasteful use. According to Mr. Si, the establishment of the energy management group has contributed to raising awareness of all officials, employees, students and teachers in the school. With the supervision and management of energy consumption in each division and each area, the school has significantly improved its energy use.

Previously, all air conditioners of the school were 1.5Hp - 2HP Toshiba one-stage air conditioners which consume lots of energy. The school has gradually replaced them with new 2HP two-stage air conditioners which are more efficient. The school has replaced 74% of old air conditioners. Combined with setting the temperature as required, planting trees, install more glasses to prevent heat loss at the doors and periodical maintenance, the school has saved about 4.59% of the total power consumption of the building, equivalent to VND 20 million.

For the lighting system, the school has also reduced the cost by over VND 21 million per year. The solutions are quite simple, such as installing energy saving light bulbs, taking advantage of natural light. The lighting system of the building is arranged in each particular area with clear distinction between areas based on demand for brightness and aesthetic properties. To avoid wasting electricity, the school has designed separate switches for each cluster and each light sequence so as to turn on or off depending on the needs of each area at different times.

To increase energy efficiency, the school has installed roofs and planted green trees. This has taken advantage of natural light, partly reduced heat and kept the balance between the environment outside and inside the building, which has helped save energy for air conditioners and the lighting system. The two -layer roof system with ventilation sphere has contributed substantially to eliminating a large portion of the heat getting inside the building.

By Minh Duc

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