Dewa facilitates efficient water, energy use forum

Dubai: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) Tuesday announced it teamed up with Emirates Group, to organise a four-day workshop offering detailed information on various energy conservation techniques.

Held at the Emirates Group headquarters, the sessions offered valuable tips and recommendations on conserving natural resources and balancing electrical load during peak hours to help optimise energy savings.

The participants, including employees and visitors to the Emirates Group headquarters, were also provided with tools and guidelines on ways to minimise wastage through rational use of water and electricity.

Dewa demonstrated the use of specific tools such as aerators that help achieve more than 40 per cent savings in water consumption. Consumers were also advised to use energy-efficient lamps and light fittings for significantly mitigating the use of energy.

To help bring about a change in consumer behaviour, Dewa explained its electronic payment method - ePay - that facilitates consumers to save further time and energy.

Dewa's initiatives such as the "Best-Consumer Award" recognising the top contribution to conservation at homes was also highlighted during the workshops.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, said: "We are committed to fostering a culture of energy conservation in Dubai and the region, and we constantly strive to make sure that all individuals are aware of the importance of conserving energy. The overwhelmingly positive response from the community has led to a significant reduction in energy consumption and to a heightened preservation of our natural resources."

Spearheading the drive for energy conservation in the region, Dewa has been conducting several programmes and initiatives including the World Environment Day activities that saw it hosting a series of exhibitions and workshops on water and paper recycling. It also marked a successful participation in the recently concluded Water Days Event.

Dewa's more recent "Best Consumer" campaign rewarded 13 home consumers with cash prizes amounting to Dh22,000 for reducing individual water and electricity consumption.

The "Conservation for a Better Tomorrow" campaign helped participating schools and universities minimise water consumption by nearly 42 per cent.

Any single initiative to preserve natural resources should be welcomed with open heart. Dewa project is something new to this end, as youngsters, particularly students should be given priority to engage in with such campaigns, perhaps can start right from the school days, so that the message can be spread across the society more effectively. When it comes to preserving of water and other essentials in life, as Mr Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer has said there has to be a culture developed among people which can be constantly updated with programmes of this kind which will help widen the awareness. As a whole, it is surely to consider as a good thought towards safeguarding of natural assets.
Ramachandran Nair
Ruwi,Oman
Posted: August 19, 2009, 16:09

This is an excellent attempt to conserve resources. There are numerous ways of reducing consumption in the home and work place. Simply start by switching off electrical units from the main supply (tv, decoder, microwave, digital radio, mobile chargers) - You'll see a huge difference in the bill at the end of the month.
Ineke
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 19, 2009, 15:15