Gulf News

Slash your utility bills using these tips

DEWA PROMOTES SMALL TWEAKS FOR PEOPLE TO PREVENT WASTING WATER AND ELECTRICIT­Y THIS SUMMER

- DUBAI Staff Report

Summer months are not an excuse to let your utility bills skyrocket. Yes, AC use could push your bills up but there are ways you can do to slash your bills.

The Dubai Electricit­y and Water Authority (Dewa) has reminded the public about its annual ‘Let’s Make This Summer Green’ campaign that aims to educate stakeholde­rs of simple tips to reduce electricit­y and water use.

The campaign is part of Dewa’s strategy to encourage society members to adopt sensible practices, which help protect the environmen­t and reduce the carbon footprint. Dewa has also given a number of simple tips that consumers can follow to reduce electricit­y and water use.

Tips include setting the air conditioni­ng at 24 degree Celsius, and rescheduli­ng the use of appliances that use a lot of energy to the morning or the evening, away from the peak load hours from noon to 6pm, using smart irrigation systems, and fixing any water leakages. The campaign also includes tips before travelling and other tips that are available on Dewa’s website and smart app.

“Dewa attaches great importance to the environmen­tal sustainabi­lity of Dubai. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to establish a sustainabl­e model of energy conservati­on that supports economic growth without damaging the environmen­t or its resources and to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050,” Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said.

“These efforts also support the Demand Side Management Strategy to reduce electricit­y and water use by 30 per cent by 2030, and Dewa’s vision to become a sustainabl­e innovative world-class utility. We encourage everyone to adopt a responsibl­e lifestyle in electricit­y and water use,” he added.

Amal Koshak, vice-president of Marketing and Corporate Communicat­ions at Dewa, said the ‘Let’s Make This Summer Green’ campaign encourages community members to adopt positive practices in their daily lives to reduce electricit­y and water use.

Lectures in malls, entities

“This can be achieved by making simple changes to their daily habits such as setting the AC to 24C, unplugging electrical

Dewa attaches great importance to the environmen­tal sustainabi­lity of Dubai. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to establish a sustainabl­e model of energy conservati­on that supports economic growth without damaging the environmen­t or its resources and to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050.”

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer | Managing director and CEO of Dewa

appliances after use, irrigating plants and gardens in the early morning or in the evening to reduce evaporatio­n, and checking water connection­s to make sure there are no leaks,” he added.

Dewa aims to make these simple practices a culture and daily habit for all. Koshak noted that the campaigns launched by Dewa during the past years achieved significan­t results in the rationalis­ation of consumptio­n, and proved the importance of joint efforts to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environmen­t.

As part of the campaign, Dewa organises a comprehens­ive programme that includes awareness lectures in government organisati­ons, private companies, shopping malls, union co-ops, Ramadan iftar tents set up by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department and the UAE Red Crescent Authority, as well as other gatherings.

The campaign also includes awareness tips on Dewa’s social media channels to raise awareness about the importance of the rational use of resources and involve all customers and society members in the efforts to protect the environmen­t and preserve natural resources.

Dewa’s guidelines include conducting regular maintenanc­e of AC units including cleaning and replacing the filter, ensuring all doors and windows are closed so cold air doesn’t escape, closing the water valve before going on vacation, using a specialist to check the water supply before travelling to avoid leakage, and unplugging electrical appliances. Connected devices, even if turned off, use 5-10 per cent of electricit­y consumptio­n at home.

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