The conservation programmes and initiatives launched by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have achieved cumulative savings of 2.2 terrawatthours (TWh) of electricity and 7.8 billion gallons of water between 2009 and 2019. This is equivalent to saving AED 1.3 billion and reducing 1.136 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, praised the results achieved by DEWA’s customers. He emphasised that these numbers underline awareness among society members on the importance of protecting the environment and saving natural resources, through the sensible use of electricity and water.
“We work to achieve the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050. Dubai has achieved significant progress in this area. It reduced its carbon emissions by 19% in 2018, surpassing the target set by the Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 to reduce emissions by 16% in 2021. In April 2019, DEWA ensured a global achievement as Dubai received the Platinum Rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Cities certification awarded by the US Green Building Council. Dubai is the first city in the Arab world and the Middle East and North Africa to receive this prestigious certification,” said Al Tayer.
“DEWA adopts an integrated strategy to raise awareness on the importance of rationalising consumption and involving all society members in efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural resources. Every year, we launch several initiatives, programmes and awards to encourage a responsible lifestyle in electricity and water use. These include the Conservation Award; the Ideal Home initiative; the Green Week; Earth Hour; and Let’s Make this Summer Green campaign,” added Al Tayer.
Al Tayer said that the Dubai Demand Side Management Strategy aims to reduce demand by 30% by 2030, noting that Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), a DEWA company, will retrofit over 30,000 buildings in Dubai by 2030 to make them energy-efficient.
Between 2009 and 2019, savings in the commercial sector amounted to 1.3 TWh of electricity (10%) and 4.4 billion gallons of water (27%). The residential sector achieved savings of 76 gigawatthours (GWh) of electricity (17%) and 534 million gallons of water (26%). The industrial sector realised savings of 123 GWh of electricity (13%) and 212 million gallons of water (28%). Government and semi-government organisations achieved savings of 448 GWh of electricity (11%) and 1.1 billion gallons of water (20%). Educational institutions achieved savings of 279 GWh of electricity (11%) and 1.5 billion gallons of water (22%).
These savings are equivalent to an annual electricity consumption from approximately 327,000 apartments and annual water consumption of 250,000 apartments. This has contributed to reducing 1.136 million tonnes of carbon emissions equivalent to planting 1.3 million trees and the consumption of 134 million LED lights, while water saving was equivalent to filling up 14,000 Olympic swimming pools.