UAE | Environment

Earth Hour saves 170,000 kilowatt-hours in Dubai

Rate of carbon dioxide also reduced as Dubai turns off lights for Earth Hour

  • By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 11:00 March 28, 2010
  • Gulf News

Burj Khalifa during Earth Hour
  • Image Credit: Sankha Kar/Gulf News
  • Dubai's Burj Khalifa tower is pictured during Earth Hour.
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Dubai A record 126 countries and territories, over 4,000 cities, towns and municipalities and hundreds of millions of people around the globe took part in Earth Hour on Saturday.

Across the world different cities and towns switched their lights off for 60 minutes during an overall period of 25 hours and 45 minutes.

In Dubai a massive Lantern March organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) took place between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

"By switching off the lights and other electrical appliances, we saved nearly 170 megawatt-hours, equivalent to 170,000 kilowatt-hours [kWh] and reduced the ratio of carbon dioxide by 102,000kg," said Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dewa, in a statement on Saturday.

He added Dubai has, through its participation in Earth Hour over the past two years, saved 246,000kWh and reduced 148,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions.

Response

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Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour, said on Saturday, "The response from citizens, businesses and governments has been truly phenomenal. Crossing geographic, economic and cultural boundaries, it has brought together people from all over the planet to celebrate the one thing we all share — the place we live."

More than 5,500 people participated in the march, according to Al Tayer. The participants carried lanterns to indicate their support for the switching off of lights and cutting out needless electricity consumption during Earth Hour.

"The organising of this Lantern March is an expression of Dubai's support for and solidarity with sustaining our living environment; a symbolic gesture that reflects Dubai's commitment to the cause of conserving our natural resources, through good utility-consumption and usage behaviour," he said.

Amal Koshak, Dewa Senior Manager, Demand and Tariff Management Department, said: "Earth Hour is not intended to just turn off the lights for one hour or so, every year; the initiative is intended draw the attention of people and establishments [so] that they can work together for the benefit of themselves and their planet, and that everyone can make a difference."

What is it?

The Earth Hour initiative was conceived by the WWF and launched for the first time in Sydney in 2007. The event aims to encourage everyone to rationalise their electricity consumption in order to reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution

Comments (14)

  1. Added 12:38 March 29, 2010

    It seems people here don't care or didn't want to make an effort. I left Sharjah at 8, hoping to see some lights off, especially the ones on Sheikh Zayed Road, but nothing happened. Why are the lights of all the high rise business towers on Sheikh Zayed Road switched on during the weekend? What a waste! You know what would make more sense than an Earth Hour every year (which is why Valentine's Day is such an over-rated waste!)? If people and companies and authorities actually enforced the saving of electricity.

    Osama, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 16:52 March 28, 2010

    There were very nice flying lanterns that were lit as well during Earth Hour Dubai.

    Sahar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 15:53 March 28, 2010

    Do you really think we performed our duty by switching off lights for one hour? (for those who actually did).What about those numerous lights, air-conditioners etc that stay on in offices/showrooms/under construction buildings etc every night? Just imagine the amount of energy that can be saved by switching off those!! Not for an hour, only during the time when they are not needed, is that a little too much to ask?

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 15:42 March 28, 2010

    A few minutes before 8.30pm last night, my husband and I came out of our apartment after switching off all the lights and electrical apliances at home feeling happy 'coz we were able to participate in this noble cause to save the earth. It was sad to observe that for almost all the people in Sharjah, it was a normal day as usual. We were expected to see a darker UAE at least for one hour. Most people didn't even know that there was a thing called "Earth Hour". When it comes to environment friendly issues and saving the earth, people living in the UAE don't seem to care.

    Padma S, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 14:52 March 28, 2010

    8.30pm, we switched off all lights and water heaters in our Springs3 house. Only fridge was still on. We deciced to go for a walk around sprigs/Meadows lakes. First impression: neighbours dont read newspapers or watch TV... all lights were on inside AND outside! Second impression: street lights, fountain lights in the lakes and all building from Marine (seen from Springs) were as bright as usual. Conclusion: Dubai could have saved 10 times more kilowatt and CO2 with a lillte bit more of planning and involvment! Conclusion 2: for few years, I've been doing my personal Earth Hour at least once a month. It doesn't cost anything... beleive me! Cheers, B.

    Bruno, Belgian in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 13:41 March 28, 2010

    I had switched off all the lights at my place except the tele for I wanted to see how many had taken part in this? I am surprised that so much energy was saved...some people in my neighbourhood had their lights on so i guess if everyone makes an extra effort we can save more and more energy.This was my bit of putting an effort...if not complete but to an extent and i am proud that i did it. A big thank you to all those who turned off in order to save our mother earth!

    Shine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 13:27 March 28, 2010

    Where there's a will, there's a way!! Wish we could do this once every week!

    Arlene, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 13:25 March 28, 2010

    May be its just for an hour, but it makes me glad that i took part in that. Especially when it saved so much of energy in Dubai, Think how much of energy is saved in the whole world.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 13:10 March 28, 2010

    We turned off our lights and appliances in JLT. However from my balcony I saw that Dubai Marina was ablaze with lights. 7 buildings being developed in JLT had lights ablaze - even more than usual. Meadows was no different, football fields ablaze, houses ablaze, and hardly anyone in JLT turned off a light. Only token switching off of lights. It seems that Dubai could do better than the 170 Kilowatt hour if we all pitch in and do our bit and not leave it to only those who care about the environment.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  10. Added 12:22 March 28, 2010

    I did my bit, switched off all the lights and electrical appliances and went for a nice long walk. But, it was really disappointing to see many buildings, shops, advertisment banners brightly lighted up as usual. I'm not sure how many people actually knew aboout Earth Hour!! Wish we could do little more to enlighten people about this initative.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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