DEWA Celebrates World Energy Day with Community Activities

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is organising an outreach campaign incorporating a series of community activities at Mirdif City Centre, to celebrate World Energy Day. This day was affirmed on 22 October 2012 in the Dubai Declaration of Energy for All signed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, representatives of 54 countries, the United Nations, the Arab League and the African Union, who agreed to make it an annual event. World Energy Day highlights the importance of energy and its role in our lives through its positive impact in all spheres of economic and social development and as an important factor in the empowerment of people and the fight against poverty. This includes a series of activities to increase awareness of the importance of conserving energy and promoting sustainability. “Today, we celebrate the World Energy Day adopted by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to highlight the urgent need to take serious and constructive steps to preserve the environment, adopt renewable energy sources, and to promote action and dialogue among all countries and international organisations to achieve sustainable development around the world, and raise awareness among communities and individuals on the importance of renewable and clean energy. DEWA is firmly committed to promote the concept of rationalisation as a culture in the community, by encouraging today’s youth to sensibly use electricity and water. This is why we consider the happiness of the community as a priority in all our strategies,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. “According to the latest United Nations figures on global energy poverty, over 1.4 billion people globally have no access to modern energy sources, that’s one in every five people around the world. Twice this number, approximately three billion people, rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. As a result, they are exposed to toxic fumes. These figures encourage us to put an end to energy poverty, and ensure the optimal use of our resources to maintain a balance between using our resources and sustainability. It is a priority for us to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and promote sustainable development around the world,” added Al Tayer. “In the UAE, we adopt an innovative approach to managing the energy sector, particularly renewable energy, by overcoming many challenges, such as water scarcity, increasing energy consumption and climate change, which all puts immense pressure on the future energy security of the world. The UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, has put the production of clean energy as a top priority, as we created opportunities to enhance the transition to produce clean, reliable and sustainable energy, On this occasion, I urge us all to unify our efforts to conserve the use of electricity and water and conserve natural resources to ensure their sustainability, for generations to come.” said Al Tayer. As part of the various activities, DEWA will highlight its Shams Dubai initiative to encourage tenants and building owners to install photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity. DEWA will connect the system to its network. The electricity will be used onsite and the surplus exported to DEWA’s grid. From 22-24 October at Mirdif City Centre, DEWA will organise a workshop for its mascots, Noor and Hayat, who personify energy and water as an electricity flash and a droplet of water, respectively. Children will be able to participate in designing and creating a customised Emirati outfit for the characters, which also supports the promotion of national identity. Photos will be taken of each participant’s creation and then posted onto Social Media (Instagram) with a hashtag (#hayat_noor) as part of a competition. The designs with the most Likes will receive prizes. There will also be a young engineers’ workshop to educate children about electricity circuits and how they work, through a smart educational electronic kit. This will also give children an insight as to why we must be more conscious of conserving energy. Visitors to the World Energy Day area will be able to answer a variety of trivia questions about energy and the environment. This will be available in both English and Arabic. Prizes will be given to winners with the correct answers. DEWA is seeking to promote a culture of reducing electricity and water use using new and innovative ways among its customers.