HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has celebrated the eleventh Conservation Award ceremony for 2016- 2017, organised by DEWA in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. The ceremony was attended by HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; HE Marwan Al Sawaleh, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs, and HE Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KHDA, a number of senior officials from several government departments of Dubai, senior DEWA and KHDA officials, faculty members, heads, and students from educational institutions in Dubai.
The Conservation Award recognises the efforts of educational institutions in Dubai to reduce electricity and water consumption, and honours individual achievements including students, teachers and staff. The award reflects DEWA’s strategy to promote environmental awareness and encourage institutions and individuals to adopt best practices in energy conservation and energy efficiency.
“The Award celebrates the achievements of the education sector, which is one of the foundations for achieving the UAE Centennial 2071, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the end of the first session of the annual meetings of the UAE Cabinet. It is one of the key pillars for future generations, as well those of economy, technology and infrastructure. Our children are the leaders of the future and the foundations of sustainable development. They are the heralds of the future who will ensure a better life for the generations that will follow them, and contribute to making the UAE the best country in the world,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Al Tayer praised the efforts of the joint efforts between DEWA, the Ministry of Education and the KHDA over the last 11 years. “Due to our partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and the Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai over the last eleven years, the considerable success of the Conservation Award reflects the huge support of the community for our initiatives to raise public awareness about the need to rationalise electricity and water consumption, as well as the conservation of natural resources. This year, we have two new participants in the Conservation Award: Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) and Taqati, the specialist office appointed by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. Taqati will provide guidance and support to everyone involved in the implementation of the Demand Side Management Strategy to reduce electricity and water consumption in Dubai by 30% by 2030,” noted Al Tayer.
“Last year, the Conservation Award contributed to significant savings. These include saving 23 gigawatt hours of electricity (GW/h), over 288 million gallons of water, and over 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to planting 20,000 trees. This led to financial savings of AED 25 million. The total savings achieved by the educational institutions, from 2007 until last year, is 157GW/h and 1,400,000,000 gallons in water consumption, which is enough to fill 2,500 Olympic swimming pools. This contributed to reducing nearly 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to planting 100,000 trees. These cumulative savings in electricity and water are worth approximately AED 122 million,” said Al Tayer.
“Since its launch in 2005, the award has been successful in spreading a culture of conservation as a lifestyle for students, the school community, and families. This caused a huge impact on our students to cautiously utilise natural, non-renewable, resources,” said HE Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KHDA.
“Since Dubai is the city of sustainability, we are proud to cooperate with our colleagues in the Award, year after year. The Award has contributed to the mobilisation of energy to build a sustainable future that will enhance the quality of life for future generations. It will also encourage our students and schools to act positively towards nature and the environment, and to participate in ensuring the sustainability of natural resources, with innovative ideas and school initiatives,” noted Al Karam.
In the presence of HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and HE Marwan Al Sawaleh, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs; HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA accompanied by HE Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KHDA, presented the awards to the winners of the Distinguished Educational Institution in Conservation, Distinguished Conservation Leader, Distinguished Conservation Team, and Distinguished Conservation Project categories.
In the Distinguished Educational Institution in Conservation category from the public and private sectors, the winners for Nurseries and Kindergarten were Al Hikma Kindergarten and Jumeirah International Nursery. For Primary schools, the winners were Ghernata Girls School and National Charity School. For Secondary schools, the winners were Al Mohallab School and Raffles World Academy. In the High Schools category, the winners were Al Salam School and The Millennium School. Lastly, in the Adult Learning category, the Dubai Women’s Association at Al Hamriya, was the winner. However, there were no winners from universities or colleges.
In the Distinguished Conservation Leader category, the winners were Noora Saif Al Muhairi, from Umm Suqeim School from the public sector, and Rashmi Nandkeolyar from Delhi Private School (DPS) from the private sector.
In the Distinguished Conservation Team category, the winner for the People of Determination category was Al Noor Training Centre For Persons With Disabilities. For Primary schools, the winner was Khulafa Al Rashideen School and, for secondary schools, Our Own High School at Al-Warqa. For the Distinguished Conservation Project category, the winners were Asma bint Alnuman school from the public sector, and Jumeirah College from the private sector.
DEWA also honoured the educational institutions with the highest energy efficiency. These included Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), Heriot-Watt University, Ahmed Bin Sulayem School for Basic Education, Umm Suqeim Model School, and Maria Al Kubtiya School for Secondary Education.
DEWA also honoured the most active individuals in conservation. These included Hanan Ismail Al Doks, from Amna Bin Wahab School, Abdul Hameed Hejazi, from Dubai High School, Muna Murad, from Al Awir School, Ahmed Tayara, from Al Shaarawi School, Fatma Bilal, from Al Shaab School, Zubaida Abdul Hameed, from Al Bara’a Kindergarten, Geoffrey Blaquiere, from Kindergarten Starters, and Laly Mathay, from Dubai University.
At the end of the ceremony, Al Tayer thanked the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Education, KHDA, the participating educational institutions, and all who contributed to the success of the Award.