Sick and tired of electricity bills draining your wallet?
Markus Oberlin believes he may have the solution that will save you money and be kinder to the environment.
General Manager of Farnek Services in Dubai, Oberlin is set to introduce, within the next three months, what he calls an “energy-saving module'' that flows only the electricity needed by the hour to a building, leading to savings of up to 25 per cent. On a villa owner's Dh10,000 Dewa bill, that's a savings of Dh2,500 per month; over one year, that's a savings of Dh30,000.
“We can set up for buildings of any size ranging from a villa to a shopping centre,'' Oberlin said.
The cost to set up a smaller energy-saving module for a villa ranges from Dh10,000 to Dh20,000. Highest energy users
Dubai ranks among the highest energy users in the world. Energy costs are even greater since Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) hiked its surcharges on March 1, 2008, resulting in annual rate hikes as high as 37.5 per cent for villa residents and 66 per cent for larger building owners.
According to Oberlin, Farnek clients seized upon the opportunity to find savings. Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), for example, signed up to install larger energy- saving modules at a cost of Dh204,000 and within the first year it will have cut Dh171,936 from its Dewa bill.
Oberlin said, “That's a payback period of 14.2 months.''
Robert D. Stokoe, JESS Director, said: “Everything is running perfectly.'' Other clients such as VW Service Centre in Dubai, which invested Dh106,500 to purchase the module system, is expected to save Dh59,623 in one year.
Farnek also has products such as pool coverings to prevent cool water from evaporating as well as new lights that can shave 70 per cent off monthly lighting bills. Farnek will be at the FM Expo Facilities Management Conference in Dubai from May 24-26.
