Less than three years since the pandemic started, the Philippines’ education sector is slowly transitioning back to in-person classes after over two years of blended and full-distance learning. In its recent announcement, the Department of Education (DepEd) noted that public and private schools nationwide must transition to five days of offline classes starting November 2.
DepEd also noted that institutions would be given ample time to shift gradually through blended learning setups. Among these setups is the “HyFlex” model, a term coined from the words “Hybrid” and “Flexible.” Through this hybrid and flexible learning setup, students may have three days of in-person classes and two days of distance learning or four days of in-person classes and a day of distance learning.
Now more than ever, these changes require significant demands on the institutions’ IT infrastructure and personnel to maintain it. That is why having an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is necessary for every school and university to adapt competently and adjust to today’s new normal—this is where Vertiv Lithium-ion batteries come charge-ready to support schools in the HyFlex setup.
A Cost-efficient Option
When reinforcing new technologies in our system, the cost usually is a huge question mark for everyone. The initial cost of Vertiv Lithium-ion Technology may be higher. However, lithium-ion batteries now provide a lower total cost of ownership in as little as five years. Over the typical service life of a UPS, it is estimated that a lithium-ion battery system can provide a total cost of ownership (TCO) savings of 40 percent or more.
Hassle-free transportation and installation
‘Worrying about limited facility space? Lithium-ion batteries weigh about 60% less and are 70 percent more compact, making them easier to transport and install. This feature saves space in any on-site or remote facility, allowing you to reconfigure your deployment to increase available rack space for IT servers and networking equipment.
Longer lifespan and runtime
Lithium-ion batteries last two to three times longer than traditional batteries. With this, schools will significantly benefit from fewer battery replacements, less maintenance, and lower human labor cost. Lithium-ion batteries typically have a design life of eight to 10 years, which means they should have the same lifespan as a single-phase UPS.
Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries charge only two to four hours to full capacity. Longer running time means a better IT system for students.
“At Vertiv, we are fully recharged to support the schools’ transitioning to the HyFlex model. We believe that Vertiv batteries are dependable in ensuring power continuity and quality for IT systems. One of the appreciable advantages of lithium-ion batteries is that you can set them and forget them. Due to its long battery lifespan, your school’s IT house can function with less labor cost. This technology can support physical and online learning environments,” shared Jason Lim, country manager, Vertiv Philippines.