Dubai: It is as easy as switching off the lights in most cases and once you start, everyone around you will start too. That is what happened to Tarané Ali Khan, 22, a public relations officer from India, once she pledged to reduce her energy consumption through the Heroes of the UAE campaign.
Thousands of people have pledged to reduce their energy consumption in the UAE through the local campaign launched earlier this year which aims to educate residents on the country's depleting energy and water resources.
More people are being urged to change their habits to make a huge impact on the environment by the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) who launched the pledge in mid-February.
At the Ali Khan residence, the air conditioning has gone down a few degrees and the lights are switched off more often than before.
"We also switch off the plugs of our appliances," said Tarané. "We asked our building if it would be possible to get some light sensors installed in the corridors as well.
"They told us they would think about it but a few of us will keep asking them. It really is the small things that make a difference," she said.
So far, with more than 2,000 pledges made during the first phase, enough energy has been saved to power 700 apartments for one year, EWS-WWF said.
Tarané said: "I took part in the Earth Hour with my family. My dad kept asking if the hour was over but it started a good discussion at home. The street lights also went out outside which was encouraging!"
According to Tanzeed Alam, the climate change and sustainability manager at EWS-WWF, an estimated 20 per cent of electricity consumption in the UAE households is currently being wasted. Alam says that by following online tips from the heroesoftheuae.ae website, immediate energy and financial savings are possible.
"It is a message that is steadily spreading. To date, if all individuals who have pledged [to save power] follow through on their intentions, we would save enough energy to power some 700 apartments in the UAE. We want this number to keep increasing," he said.
Natasha Adnani, 22, born in India and raised in Dubai, said she had pledged to use less energy to see the effect it can have across the world. "Mass contribution put together will really show what we can do," she said. At home Adnani and her family have also started switching off the wall sockets feeding TV plugs, and the time spent in the shower has been.
"Once my laptop is charged I use it on its battery pack instead of leaving it plugged in all the time. It's tiny little things but it works," she said.
Similarly Kaz Fairs, 28, a consultant from the United Kingdom made her pledge to save power as a way to "keep myself in check". Lunch in her office has taken a drastic change with colleagues drinking from personal cups and using their own cutlery.
Ecological Footprint
The UAE has the highest per capita Ecological Footprint in the world, meaning that if everyone in the world consumed natural resources at the same rate as an average UAE resident, we would need the equivalent of 4.5 planets to sustain that level of consumption.
To make a pledge, please visit www.heroesoftheuae.ae.
Tips:
- Turn the AC back up two to three degrees. You can save Dh245 a year
- Take a quick shower and use three times less water than a hot bath. You can save Dh570 a year
- Next time you need to replace a bulb, take the energy saving option. You can save Dh806 a year.
Have you heard of this campaign? Have you tried to help out by saving energy? If not, what is preventing you from doing so? Do you have any creative suggestions to save energy?
Your comments
It's a great initiative and I wish all the people followed in the way of this campaign.Coming from a country that has power-cuts as a routine [to save energy], my family and I have automatically learnt the tactics to save energy. We are taught from a very young age about saving electricity, using alternative energy sources, saving water, and the importance of recycling. I really wish the best of luck for Gulf News in spreading this event and pray that it be made a universal campaign. This act will surely make a marked difference in saving our resources.
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2009, 17:59
Not yet, i haven't come across this until this morning. well, it is indeed a welcome approach for today's world crisis. of course, there are these little little things which i have been and is applying in my day-to-day life, to conserve energy.
do not open the fridge and the freezer often. this results in loss of energy.
use low-watt bulbs for all home use. a lamp of minimum 1 watt is easily available.
minimise the use of incandescent lamps. encourage flourescent ones.
minimise the use of internal home machines like washing machines and vacuum cleaners. apply the do-it-yourself method. afterall it will be a real body work-out. moreover, saving your electricity and water bill. if using the washing machine, regulate the timer conveniently. and wisely use the water to clean your toilet floors with this.
there is no need for the use of water heater in this season. encourage to use the luke warm water.
do not suffocate yur freezer. it will disturb it's breathing.
when there is daylight, utilise maximum.
Switch off the electrical appliances immediately after use.
Neji Navas
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2009, 17:19
I feel the Environment (solution) communication has emerged as a big problem itself. There are a lot of theories and concepts which contradict each other. At times superficial solutions add to the problem. For example, energy saving bulbs have there own set of problems and if they are not disposed off properly, if quantified, its better to use normal bulbs.
By no means do I want to discourage anyone from taking actions to save energy but, would request that let us build our understanding and then move on the right track. Also, recently I have started taking Bus from Sharjah to Dubai. It pains me to see the ACs in buses ( even without passengers) are kept on (with doors open).Its criminal to do so. Can RTA instruct their drivers/ staff to be more Energy-wise ?
Seema Sangra
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2009, 13:02
I have made certain rules in my house to save energy and at the same time make it lucrative too. *The last person to leave a room has to switch off the light, fan, A.C and main plug points.* No leaving the bathroom light on after use.* computer and laptops must not be left on for more than a 5 minute break. When these rules are not followed, fines have to be deposited in a box. My kids also follow these rules and pay up fines of 1Dh from their pocket money if they break the rules. My 6 year old has become an expert in collecting fines from each member of the family. The deposited money is then used for buying essential stuff and at times for a small treat for the family. This initiative is helping me in reducing my electricity bill and at the same time in saving money too. A special box is kept for this purpose. It has become an interesting campaign for my kids. Gulf News is doing a great job by spreading awareness about the need to save energy and water through its various campaigns.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2009, 10:36
