The University embarked on a $116,000 project last week to install occupancy sensors in classrooms and conference rooms in buildings across the Georgetown campus.
The sensors, which detect human presence using infrared and ultrasound technology, will be installed in classrooms and conference rooms that have the greatest potential for high energy consumption, according to University spokesperson Julie Green Bataille.
“External studies have shown that using these kinds of sensors can reduce power usage from 20 to 45 percent,” Bataille wrote in an e-mail.
The University received a $50,000 grant from the D.C. government to defray the cost of the sensors, and it is estimated that the project could pay for itself within two years from the reduced power consumption.
In the meantime, the sensors, which are located in ICC, Walsh, and New North buildings on the Main Campus and the Basic Science, MedDent, and D buildings on the Medical Center Campus, still need some fine-tuning. Although they can be over-ridden by conventional light switches, the lack of movement during classes has caused some localized blackouts.
“About every ten minutes, the entire class waved their arms to get the lights back on,” John Burke (SFS ’08) said. “I don’t know if I’d say it was disruptive, but it was entertaining.”
