Black is new green for Earth Hour

Dubai : The lights at the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, will be switched off for 60 minutes on March 27 to mark the global environmental awareness event, Earth Hour. The landmark is just one of hundreds of buildings and businesses taking part in this year's event, including the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi as well as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

There will also be a special lantern parade along Jumeirah Beach Road to mark the event.

Eco-friendly initiatives

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of Emirates Wildlife Society - World Wide Fund for Nature, which organises Earth Hour, said they have been working closely with different businesses, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and police to prepare for the event. "The actions shown by business and community leaders are crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change. The UAE has one of the highest ecological footprints per capita, so our role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest threat to the planet is absolutely vital," she said. Engr Amal Koshak, Senior Manager, Demand and Tariff, Dewa, said, "We ask consumers to conserve water and electricity. In 2009, we had various projects with the government, malls, hotels and other businesses, and saved 200 million kilowatt-hours in electricity and one billion gallons of water, thereby making a financial saving of Dh96 million," she said.

Earth Hour was launched in Sydney in 2007 and developed into a worldwide campaign involving hundreds of cities in 118 countries. The event takes place from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 27.
 

Hotel goes back to typewriters to help eco-drive

Staff at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers will be using typewriters (see above) at its Business Centre and non-electrical items for housekeeping services to mark Earth Hour. The hotel will also turn off its lights for the hour-long event.

Maï Café at Aloft Abu Dhabi hotel is offering a ‘blindfolded' dinner on March 27 at Dh175 per person out of which Dh100 per person will go to the WWF Earth Hour Foundation