(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Dubai Airports' conservation efforts are paying environmental and financial dividends as the organisation today reported the results of 2011 energy and fuel saving initiatives that reduced CO2 emissions by 72,793 tonnes, saved 131.9 million gallons of water and achieved Dh 15.9 million (US4.33 million) in fuel savings.
Dubai International Airport is an efficient global hub whose two largest airlines Emirates and flydubai have young, fuel-efficient fleets featuring the latest aircraft technology. That combined with Dubai's geocentric location that effectively reduces flying time and the number of required connecting flights limits associated emissions, according to Jamal Al-Hai, Executive Senior Vice President, Communications and International Affairs, Dubai Airports.
Aside from these efficiencies, Dubai Airports continues its aggressive campaign to conserve water and reduce power consumption across both of its airport properties. By installing energy-saving lamps and occupancy sensors, re-setting air conditioning by a mere three degrees (from 21 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees) and implementing chiller management systems Dubai Airports managed to save over 21.4 million kilowatt/hours of electricity worth Dh 8.13 million, equivalent to 9,993 tonnes of CO2 during 2011. At Dubai World Central, the conservation of 2.242 million kWh of electricity saved Dh 1.04 million and equivalent 1,906 tonnes of CO2 during the same time frame, according to Al-Hai.
Another successful initiative which continues to yield substantive fuel and CO2 savings is the airport's stand hold policy which limits the number of aircraft taxiing and queuing at the runway. The intention is to absorb any delay time on the stand whilst the aircraft engines are shut down.
This contributes to a fuel saving in addition to keeping the airfield free of congestion whilst providing an optimal flow to the runway. During 2011 this policy generated 530,621 minutes of reduced engine run time and saved 5.3 million gallons of fuel (or 19,332 tonnes) and reduced CO2 emissions by 60,894 tonnes.
Dubai Airports will join other energy-conscious organisations across the world on March 31 to mark Earth Hour by switching off all non-essential lights across Dubai International's three terminals and at Dubai World Central. Last year Dubai International's demand for electricity dropped by 11 Megawatts from 80 MW to 69 MW during the one hour event.
