Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Launches Call for Candidacy for Conservation Prize

The Prize includes all governmental and private educational institutions as well as measuring their actual conservation rates as a key criterion In its pursuit towards the consolidation of the culture of good conservation of electricity and water as well as protecting natural resources against waste and loss, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) launched several conservation initiatives, events and activities. All these initiatives aimed to increase the awareness of local society so that conservation becomes a way of daily life. On the occasion of the call for candidacy of the educational sector, in partnership and collaboration with Knowledge and Human Development Authority, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA pointed out that DEWA works in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. These directives stress the necessity of power conservation in order to conserve our resources. In this regard, DEWA adopts ambitious plans in the field of power and water conservation and in the meanwhile measuring how far these campaigns are reacted to. H.E. Al Tayer stated that DEWA has launched, in partnership with Knowledge and Human Development Authority, since the year 2005-2006 , the “Conservation for a better future” prize in order to appreciate the practical achievements and consumers’ response to the devised ways and techniques applied with the purpose of minimizing electricity and water consumption in Dubai. This prize was highly praised by the Government of Dubai and consequently won the Award of “Dubai Government Excellence Program”(DGEP) for the “Co-Performance” category in which more than one Government Department cooperates to encourage team work. This prize of “Conservation for a better future” aims to promote individuals’ awareness level so as to help them cut down their electricity and water consumption in educational institutions in Dubai. As for the prize, H.E. Al Tayer stated: “We are seeking to spread conservation as a societal culture among the educational institutions in Dubai – either governmental or private. This prize will enable us to have partners in one of the most important sectors which we have always been trying to reach. If the coming generations believe in the importance of conserving our human resources, we’ll definitely succeed in building up a brighter future for them.” On his part, Dr. Abdullah Al Karam, Chairman of the Board and Director General of Knowledge and Human Development Authority, praised the efforts exerted by DEWA to spread the culture of conservation, as well its adopting the prize of “Conservation for a better future”. Also Dr. Al Karam hailed the prize team whose efforts led to the success of the prize during the past years. “This continuous partnership between DEWA and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority regarding the prize of “Conservation for a better future” for three straight years has resulted in winning the award of Dubai Government excellence Programme in its last session. He also expressed his appreciation of the growing active participations of the different educational institutions during the past years, and also the positive results achieved by the prize year after year. The results included a high rise in the rates of conservation at the level of the educational institutions. Besides, the prize’s societal role to disseminate the culture of conservation in the society,” Dr. Al Karam added. Amal Koshak, Senior Manager – Demand & Tariff Management at DEWA and Manager of Conservation Campaigns and Head of the “Conservation for a better future” Team, stated: “DEWA exerts tremendous efforts to consolidate the value of rational consumption as one of the most important values in society. Such prizes contribute to encouraging individuals to effect change, and in the meanwhile they brief us on how far individuals react to awareness programmes which we provide all the year round. This prize enabled us, during last year, to achieve around 22% of water consumption and 11% of electricity consumption. It is for this reason that we are keen on its continuation. Moreover, we have added new categories to it so that we can reach all educational facilities.” In a bid to encourage all educational sectors to participate in this prize, DEWA, in its session of this year, has added the category of educating teachers, students and educational facilities staff in Dubai while assuring them that their efforts can make a difference as they are a model to the coming generations. Through this new addition, all the educational sector can participate and play a role through simple efforts and some instructions and directives which can strengthen the concept of proper consumption within their educational facilities. Anyone who wishes to participate can fill out the application form in the website: www.dewa.gov.ae or download the application form and send it to cs.dtm@dewa.gov.ae. Also they can contact customer service centre on 601999 for more details about the prize. The basic criterion for the prize of “Conservation for a better future “ is the reduction of the electricity and water consumption in the various educational facilities. The prize is divided into three main categories: The Category of Governmental and Private Educational Facilities, The Category of other Educational Facilities (such as Special Needs Centers, Child care centers, Old People Educational Centers), and The Category of Domestic Consumer – Administration, Teaching Staff and Students. Also cash prizes will be offered to the first three winners for each category. For the first two categories mentioned above, the first winner will get 10,000 dirhams, the second winner 8,000 dirhams, and the third winner 6,000 dirhams. Concerning the third above-mentioned category, the first winner will get 3,000 dirhams, the second winner 2,000 dirhams, and the third winner will get 1,000 dirhams. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority calls upon all educational facilities to participate in this prize. They can apply for this prize starting from today till the end of April 2011. Those who wish to participate, have to apply the programme of conservation in facilities properly. They should fix all leakages, turn off water faucets tightly, switch off all lights and air conditioners while not being in use. All facilities participating in this prize have to save not less 7% of electricity consumption and 7% of water consumption. All methods adopted to reduce the consumption of electricity and water must be documented to be submitted to the arbitration panel, in addition to taking part in all initiatives and events organized by DEWA so as to foster the concept of conservation.