DUBAI: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is taking part on Saturday in the global event Earth Hour 2018 celebrated in March each year, in conjunction with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).
This year’s event is held under the theme “Connect2Earth” under the auspices of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. The RTA says that celebrating the event is part of its keenness to play an active role in achieving sustainable development in Dubai, and raise the profile of the emirate in environmental sustainability and energy saving.
Nasser Abu Shehab, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector-cum-chair of Energy and Green Economy Committee at the RTA, said, “The RTA has charted out a plan for this year’s Earth Hour events, which will be held today from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
Events include switching off 1,433 street lights on the Business Street, Al Saadah Street, Boulevard Street (Burj Khalifa), Al Mamzar Beach Street (from Boats Slipway to Al Mamzar Park), the parking lot of Shindagha Heritage Village, and Al Khaleej Street (from Elderly Home at Al Mamzar to Al Mamzar Park). Activities will also include switching off lights on local roads opposite to the sea in Jumeirah, which will save about 683.7 kilowatts.
“As part of the Marina Promenade celebrations at Business Bay, the RTA will run several activities including children’s games and contests, hydrogen-powered taxi, and a model of the bus-washing water treatment plant. Two buses will be deployed to lift participants from the Business Bay metro station to the site of the event,” he added.
“Lights and some air-conditioners will also be turned off at RTA Head Office, the Main Customer Happiness Centre at Umm Al Ramool, Public Transport building in addition to Al Rawiyya and Al Khawaneej stations, and Jebel Ali bus depot. Lights will also be switched off on the 5th floor of the Parking Terminal of Rashidiya metro station, premises of the Dubai Taxi Corporation and employees accommodation.”
Several metro stations will switch to the maintenance mode, and some conveyor belts at metro stations will cease operation. The overall saving resulting from the switching off street lights and facilities of the RTA is expected to be in the order of 10,000 kilowatts in one hour.
