Dubai: Students and teachers from various schools in Dubai and their families have collectively saved 157 gigawatt hours in power and 1.4 billion gallons in water since 2007, amounting to approximately Dh122 million.
The figures were released during the 11th Conservation Award for 2016-2017 on Wednesday, which honoured educational institutions for their contribution in making Dubai a city of sustainability by promoting the responsible use of resources such as electricity and water.
Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), recognised the winners along with Dr Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Marwan Al Sawaleh, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs; and Dr Abdullah Al Karam, director-general and chairman of the Board of Directors of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
“Our children are the leaders of the future and the foundations of sustainable development. They are the heralds of the future who will ensure a better life for the generations that will follow them, and contribute to making the UAE the best country in the world,” said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer also lauded the joint efforts between Dewa, the Ministry of Education and the KHDA over the last 11 years that have raised public awareness about the need to rationalise electricity and water consumption, as well as the conservation of natural resources.
“Last year, the Conservation Award contributed to significant savings. These include saving 23 gigawatt hours of electricity (GW/h), over 288 million gallons of water, and over 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which are equivalent to planting 20,000 trees. This led to financial savings of Dh25 million,” Al Tayer said.
“The total savings achieved by the educational institutions, from 2007 until last year, is 157GW/h and 1.4 billion gallons in water consumption, which is enough to fill 2,500 Olympic swimming pools. This contributed to reducing nearly 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which are equivalent to planting 100,000 trees. These cumulative savings in electricity and water are worth approximately Dh122 million,” he added.
For his part, Al Karam said the award has been successful in spreading a culture of conservation as a lifestyle for students, the school community, and families since its launch in 2005. “This caused a huge impact on our students to cautiously utilise natural, non-renewable resources,” he said.
Winners
1) Distinguished Educational Institution in Conservation category (Public and private)
Nurseries and kindergarten: Al Hikma Kindergarten and Jumeirah International Nursery
Primary school: Ghernata Girls School and National Charity School
Secondary school: Al Mohallab School and Raffles World Academy
High school: Al Salam School and The Millennium School.
Adult learning: The Dubai Women’s Association at Al Hamriya
Universities or colleges: No winner
2) Distinguished Conservation Leader category
Public sector: Noora Saif Al Muhairi, Umm Suqeim School
Private sector: Rashmi Nandkeolyar, Delhi Private School
3) Distinguished Conservation Team category
People of Determination: Al Noor Training Centre For Persons With Disabilities
Primary school: Khulafa Al Rashideen School
Secondary school: Our Own High School, Al Warqa’a
4) Distinguished Conservation Project category
Public sector: Asma Bint Alnuman School
Private sector: Jumeirah College
5) Educational institutions with the highest energy efficiency
Hamdan Bin Mohammad Smart University (HBMSU), Heriot-Watt University, Ahmad Bin Sulayem School for Basic Education, Umm Suqeim Model School, and Maria Al Kubtiya School for Secondary Education
6) Most Active Individuals in Conservation
Hanan Esmail Al Doks (Amna Bin Wahab School); Abdul Hamid Hejazi (Dubai High School); Muna Murad, (Al Awir School); Ahmad Tayara (Al Shaarawi School); Fatima Bilal (Al Shaab School); Zubaida Abdul Hameed (Al Bara’a Kindergarten); Geoffrey Blaquiere (Kindergarten Starters); and Laly Mathay (Dubai University).
