The aim of the campaign is to reduce Dubai’s carbon footprint.

As temperatures soar in Dubai during the summer months, so does our electricity consumption. Not only is this bad for our wallets, but it’s also hard on the environment, with more fuel required to keep up with the increased demand in energy – and more carbon emissions.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched its annual power saving campaign in a bid to conserve energy during the summer.

ALSO READ:
The Dubai Lamp is the world’s most energy-efficient lightbulb
Pump it: Petrol prices in the UAE are set to drop

What does this mean for you? Well, you’re strongly encouraged to limit your use of high-energy electrical appliances like washing machines, water heaters, ovens, air conditioners and irons during peak hours, which are from noon to 6pm.

Instead, you should try to use these appliances during the mornings and evenings.

“Our goal is to become the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA.

According to DEWA, initiatives like this one have been pretty successful so far. Between 2009 and 2016, the authority reports savings of over 1.54 terawatt-hours of electricity and 6.2 billion gallons of water, worth more than Dhs957 million… and more importantly, preventing about 831,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

THREE EASY WAYS TO LOWER YOUR ENERGY BILL

1. Turn it off. Yes, it’s an obvious one, but it’s easy to forget. If you’re not using lights or appliances, make sure they are switched off – and that means at the wall. Appliances left on standby can add a chunk to your power bill without you even realising.

2. Buy energy-efficient products. They might cost you a little more upfront, but will save you hundreds of dirhams in the long-run. Also, maintenance is key. When your appliances are running at peak performance, they use less energy, and save you money.

3. Turn up the thermostat. Turning up your air conditioning by 2 or 3 degrees probably isn’t enough for you to feel the difference, but could save you hundreds of dirhams per year.

– For more about Dubai straight to your newsfeed, follow us on Facebook.