Dubai residents learn to consume less energy
Date
5/29/2016 12:18:21 PM
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Energy consumption has seen a decrease from last year, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) officials confirmed on Sunday.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD and CEO of Dewa, told Khaleej Times that previous studies were conducted only on Dubai residents without counting businesses and other community segments. "With the right research, we found that Dubai ranked the 10th place on global energy consumption," he said, while opposing previous statistics that claimed Dubai on the second place. Al Tayer was speaking on the sidelines of a press conference announcing the third World Green Economy Summit, which will take place on October 5-6 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibitions Centre. The summit, operating under the new banner theme of "Driving Global Green Economy", will focus on how to drive, create and sustain a Global Green Economy while outlining and positioning the UAE's vision for its own green agenda going. Al Tayer confirmed that Dewa targeted 16 per cent energy reduction by 2016 through its carbon abatement strategy, but the city will exceed the target. "We will achieve more since our solar energy movement is working strongly," he said. Last April, Dewa announced its Jebel Ali power plant was producing 1.5 megawatts of power using solar energy. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is another project in progress to sustain solar power. The Clean Energy Strategy 2050 that was launched last by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and aims to provide 75 per cent of Dubai's energy on solar sources by 2050. It also seeks to make Dubai with lowest carbon footprint in the world and a global centre for energy conservation. Speaking of energy reducation, Al Tayer said education is key. "We have around 200 nationalities in Dubai, which means different cultures and mindsets. We need to change people's mindsets and this could be achieved through knowledge and educating the youth." He highlighted the initiatives Dewa takes such as the Consumer Award and Conservation Award that is aimed at schools. He added that such initiatives "largely contributed" to reduction of energy use. "Reaching students in schools and universities is important. Curricula should be changed and we need to put more efforts at a personal and professional level," said Al Tayer. He also hinted at the launch of two big projects.
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