Energy Lessons from Dubai

Dubai Chamber saves Dh5.5m in power costs


Mar. 25, 2011 -- DUBAI -- The Arab World's first green building, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, has successfully saved about Dh5.5 million in electricity costs within a period of 10 years. This has been achieved through conservation measures in their head office alone and aims to inspire others to follow the path to a sustainable future this Earth Hour and beyond.

"Earth Hour itself does not really save Dubai Chamber anything as we turn off our lighting and air-conditioning each evening anyway, and have done so for over a decade. This one simple practice has saved us thousands of dirhams in costs each year and reduced our carbon emissions significantly," said Annalies Hodge, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Air-conditioners and lighting together take up about 80 per cent of electricity consumption, so residents and businesses are advised to reduce their usage whenever possible.

"By simply turning up the temperature by 1 degree C, from say 22 degree C to 23 degree C, they can save up to nine per cent on their electricity bill. Regarding lighting, energy efficient Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) can reduce energy consumption by around 80 per cent and last much longer, too," she said.

In terms of water, simple tricks like putting a brick in the toilet tank can reduce the flush by a few litres and help save thousands of litres of water each day. Additionally, waste can be reduced by recycling and reusing items. Dubai Chamber is one of the landmarks in the UAE that will take part in the worldwide event and join the rest of the globe in an ongoing battle against climate change. It is known as the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Existing Building in the Arab World and the fourth outside of North America. Its green building programms helped reduce water and energy consumption by approximately 77 per cent and 47 per cent respectively between 1998 and 2008 and that led to significant carbon emission reductions and savings of around Dh7.1 million

"Just like the previous years, this year's Earth Hour will raise more awareness about climate change and encourage people to make small changes in their lives so they can live in a more sustainable manner throughout the year. The Chamber is targeting the business community as it encourages its members to participate in Earth Hour and adopt measures to conserve energy throughout the year as part of their responsible practices and make our communities a better place to live and work in," said Annelies.

farhana@khaleejtimes.com Mar 24, 2011 Khaleej Times

Farhana Chowdhury (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex)

Newstex ID: KRTB-0471-102006006