DEWA - Sustainability, Conservation, and Awareness

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched an awareness campaign during the Holy Month of Ramadan under the slogan, ‘Let your good deeds outweigh your consumption.’ This aim of the campaign is to encourage rational consumption of electricity and water among individuals and organisations in order to conserve natural resources for a sustainable future. The campaign reflects the virtues and characteristics of the Holy Month of Ramadan that encourage charity and staying away from extravagance in all forms. Based on this, and DEWA’s strategy to spread environmental awareness and promote best practices in the area of rational consumption, Water and electricity are among the major resources needed for development and these resources are scarce in some countries. DEWA provides electricity and water round the clock to all parts of the Emirates of Dubai according to the highest availability, efficiency, reliability, and environmental standards. However, some of Dubai’s residents do not follow rational consumption when using these resources. The ‘let your good deeds outweigh your consumption’ campaign aims to instil the spirit of responsibility, derived from the teachings of Islam, among society members to limit wasteful use of resources and preserve them for generations to come. The campaign targets individual and business consumers in all parts of Dubai. A team from DEWA organises educational and awareness lectures in mosques and sets up awareness stands in a number of branches of Union Co-op, Emirates Co-op and Aswaaq, and selected shopping centres and hospitals in addition to home visits. The Rationalisation Team gives advice to different segments of society on how to preserve natural resources, and make use of them without wastage in accordance with Islamic teachings. The Conservation Team has collaborated with a number of government departments to organise educational lectures at their premises and interact with their employees and educate them about the importance of adopting rational consumption practices in their daily lives at home and in the workplace to preserve natural resources. DEWA is collaborating with the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities to retrofit a number of mosques with high-tech water reduction equipment to lower water use. DEWA will also visit a number of low-income households to retrofit their homes to be more environmental friendly and more efficient in terms of electricity and water usage. The campaign also targets labourers’ Iftar tens where rationalisation tips are given in Urdu. Some prizes and gifts are distributed to labourers to encourage them to save electricity and water. “The launch of this awareness campaign is 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, to achieve the sustainable development of Dubai. The campaign is part of our strategy to rationalise consumption of electricity and water to strengthen environmental sustainability and preserve natural resources and the environment,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. “The campaign reflects DEWA’s commitment to supporting the sustainable development efforts of Dubai and raising awareness on the rational use of natural resources including power and water. We are keen to work with government and private organisations and community members, especially during Ramadan, to raise environmental awareness among different segments of society” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA. Al Mehairi pointed out rational use of power and water should not be limited to Ramadan, but must be a lifestyle adopted by everyone throughout the year. The ‘let your good deeds outweigh your consumption’ campaign is part of DEWA’s social responsibility and complements the quality initiatives it organises throughout the year to enhance sustainable development in the Emirate. Campaign Activities: •