Dubai Electricity & Water Authority | DEWA organises induction workshops on the Conservation Award for 120 public and private institutions

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised a series of induction workshops on the criteria of the Conservation Award, after it had announced opening registration for the 13th Conservation Award for the academic year 2018-2019, under the theme ‘For a Sustainable Future’. The Award is held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education (MOE); the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); and Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), the consultative and technical supporting partner for energy efficiency services. 9 workshops were held by DEWA over two weeks in Arabic and English, and attended by more than 120 public and private institutions, representing all educational stages from kindergarten to college in addition to centres for people of determination.

The workshops introduced the four categories of the Award: Distinguished Educational Institution in Conservation, Distinguished Conservation Leader, Distinguished Conservation Team, and Distinguished Conservation Project. It also highlighted registration procedures, conditions, and the technical and awareness required standards, as well as the valuable cash prizes for winners in each category. The Conservation team urged educational institutions and their members, students, and administrators to actively participate in the Award which aims to protect the environment and its natural resources, and apply best practices in the fields of conservation and energy efficiency.

“The Conservation Award sets an example for collaboration between public and private organisations in Dubai, aligning with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We are pleased to have this fruitful cooperation with the MOE and KHDA to support the objectives of the long-term national initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to build a green economy in the UAE under the theme ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’. We also proud to contribute to the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 and the UAE Vision 2021. The Award also supports the Dubai Plan 2021, and the Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Al Tayer emphasised that over the past 12 years, these joint efforts have resulted in impressive outcomes. To date, DEWA has delivered 1,424 sessions and workshops to over 353,000 students. The savings achieved by educational institutions, students and staff during the period from 2007 to 2017 are 249 gigawatt hours (GW/h) of electricity, equivalent to more than 15 million LED lamps; and over 1.5 billion gallons which is enough to fill 2,746 Olympic swimming pools. This has contributed in the reduction of 133,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and has saved about AED 168 million.

The Conservation Award aims to honour educational institutions in Dubai for their efforts in reducing electricity and water consumption. The Award also recognises the efforts of individuals in these educational institutions including students, faculty, staff, and administrators. To register for the Award and for more information, please visit the Conservation Award’s section on DEWA’s website www.dewa.gov.ae