Dubai: Avoid doing your laundry, drying your hair, ironing clothes and heating water between 12pm and 6pm and do them instead in the morning or evening this summer. This way, you’re helping reduce pressure on the power grid, Dubai’s utility provider said.
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has launched its annual Let’s Make this Summer Green campaign also known in the past as the peak load campaign that aims to reduce energy use during peak load hours between noon and 6pm when demand for electricity is higher.
The campaign aims to educate the public about the importance of using resources rationally to preserve them and reduce Dubai’s carbon footprint.
Washing machines, hair dryers, kettles, electric ovens, air-conditioners, and flat irons are among the electrical appliances that should be used outside of peak load hours to reduce pressure on the electricity grid, Dewa said.
Air-conditioning accounts for about 60 per cent of peak load use.
“Dewa attaches great importance to the rational use of energy … Our goal is to become the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050. This involves all customers in Dewa’s efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural resources, to achieve sustainable development,” Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said.
“The ultimate goal of these initiatives and campaigns is to encourage energy conservation among all members of society, and promote the sensible use of resources to become a social culture and daily practice,” added Al Tayer.
Khowla Al Muhairi, vice-president of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Dewa, said rational use of energy is everyone’s responsibility.
“Each one of us can make a difference by rationally using electricity and water, and making this behaviour a daily practice. Through this campaign, we encourage customers to schedule the use of high-energy appliances in the morning or evening if this is possible, away from the peak-load hours of 12-6pm,” Al Mehairi said.
Dewa’s programmes and initiatives between 2009 and 2016 have made considerable savings in electricity and water. Dewa’ customers saved over 1.54 terawatt/h of electricity and 6.2 billion gallons of water, worth over Dh957 million.
The generated savings resulted in offsetting around 831,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Power and water savers
Through Dewa’s programmes and initiatives, the following sectors have managed to reduce electricity and water use:
Residential sector: power — 19%; water — 28%
Industrial sector: power — 15%; water — 21%
Commercial sector: power — 10%: water — 30%
Government and semi-government organisations: power — 12%; water — 21%
Educational institutions: power — 9%; water — 24%
How to save energy
Avoid using electrical appliances that use a lot of electricity such as irons, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters and electrical ovens during peak-load hours (12 noon-6pm). Instead, operate them during off-peak hours, especially in the summer
Adjust air-conditioning to 24°C
Switch off the AC when you leave the room
Use ceiling fans to keep air circulating
If air-conditioning is on in a room, ensure all doors and windows are closed so cold air doesn’t escape
Use a programmable thermostat-controlled air-conditioning
Turn off unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic devices and unplug them to eliminate standby use
Irrigate your garden and water your plants at night-time or early in the morning to reduce water evaporation
Source: Dewa
