Dubai: Far from the one-hour gesture that Earth Hour symbolised in most places, some buildings save energy on a sustained basis. Esam R. Al Mazroei, a lighting expert who helps make this happen, tells XPRESS how energy can be saved in homes and offices:
Tell us about a project in which you have helped save energy.
We at Bahri & Mazroei were honoured to be part of Tas’heel, Dubai Municipality’s green initiative pilot project. Our task was to replace existing conventional light fixtures with LED lights and install solar panels on the rooftop. By doing so, we would draw 84 per cent less energy from Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority). The saving by LED lights was 126,309 Kwh and 47,100 Kwh by solar panels. We also achieved a reduction of 90,970kg in CO2 emissions which is the equivalent of 2,333 trees.
How do you rate Dubai as an energy consumer?
Dubai has one of the highest levels of energy consumption in the world. Some reckon you can light up another city with Dubai’s current capacity. But things are changing now. As residents, we need to take sustainable steps, not merely mark Earth Hour which is only symbolic.
How do LED lights help? Do you recommend them for homes?
Yes, of course. Unlike traditional incandescent, halogen or fluorescent lights, the use of LED or light-emitting diode lights enables significant cost reductions as they consume less energy, have a long life and low maintenance. They are also more flexible.
Can you be specific?
A 5 watt LED light can achieve what a normal spotlight of 50 watts does. It can last you for 35,000 or even 50,000 hours vis-à-vis 1,000 hours with a conventional light. In terms of maintenance, that can translate into a lot of savings.
What is the savings if a solar panel is used?
The same LED light would consume less or zero energy if the energy is supplied by a renewable source like the sun.
Are there other sources to reduce energy in homes?
Nowadays, homes and offices are becoming increasingly automated. Using energy efficiently is not just about LED lights. It also involves use of intelligent controls, presence detectors and daylight controls which automatically dim or shut off lighting when it is not required.
How does one choose the right LED lights?
That’s a challenge because technology is changing fast. Conventional lights are available in the same quality everywhere. That is not the case with LED lights which come in a wide range in terms of quality. If you are not careful, you could also face practical problems in heat dissipation and colour consistency. So get the right professional advice.
