Energy Saving of a University Building Using a Motion Detection Sensor and Room Management System

Abstract

To save electricity consumption in university buildings, we measured and compared the amount of electricity use with and without motion detection sensors and room management systems in underground parking lots, lecture rooms, and dormitories of a university building. The underground parking lots and lecture rooms were measured as sensors were applied and then removed during the semester. University classes are held weekly, so it can be assumed that the number of cars and people’s entering and using conditions are the same. In the university’s underground parking lots, a daily electricity savings of 39.5 Wh/(m2 day) of lights was achieved, with a savings rate of 77.6%. In the lecture rooms, these values were 25.0 Wh/(m2 day) and 32.4%, respectively. Savings in the use of air conditioning were 55.0 Wh/(m2 day), with a savings rate of 27.9%. Dormitories use electrical energy for lighting, heating, and socket outlets. As a reference group, 120 rooms were selected and the room management system was applied to 10 samples. For dormitories, daily electricity savings of 142.4 Wh/(m2 day) were achieved, with a savings rate of 28.2%. Thus, this study demonstrated that applying motion detection sensors and room management systems saved significant electrical energy in university underground parking lots, lecture rooms, and dormitories.