DUBAI 26 March 2017: The United Arab Emirates marked the Earth Hour. Did you?
Last night from 8:30pm till 9pm many individuals, families and organisations turned off their lights – at least unnecessary ones – to give some relief to our overburdened planet.
For an hour our Earth breathed easier and turned that that little bit greener.
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The event is held annually to encourage individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet.
Lights off as ENEC marks Earth Hour
In recognition of Earth Hour, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and its Joint Venture subsidiaries Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) and Barakah One Company, switched off all non-essential lighting between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on 25th March 25 2017 as part of the global initiative to raise awareness of our impact on the planet.
“We are proud to be able to highlight our ongoing commitment to tackle the effects of climate change and environmental consciousness by participating in Earth Hour,” said ENEC’s CEO, Mohamed Al Hammadi. “We have a responsibility to protect our environment, the communities we serve and the world we live in, and ensuring that we operate safely and in a sustainable manner is of paramount importance to all of us here at ENEC and our partners.”
Enec is committed to operating in a manner respectful of the surroundings of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant throughout all stages of construction and operations, and continues to collaborate with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in order to implement international best practices, ensuring environmental protection, habitat preservation, and water and energy conservation.
ADM switches off lights to mark Earth Hour
The Abu Dhabi City Municipality has switched off lights this night (Saturday, March 25, 2017) in a number of vital facilities in Abu Dhabi such Sheikh Zayed Bridge. Decorative light in the Bridge has been switched off in a show of celebration of the Earth Hour event, which is held this year under the theme: Switch off Lights, Show Your Social Strength. Lights have been switched off for one hour from 08.30 pm to 09.30 pm.
The Municipality held an event to mark the occasion in which it has engaged beach visitors and lit candles for one hour. The event attracted huge public participation.
This event underscores the commitment of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport to the standards of sustainability, maintaining energy and conserving power consumption besides raising the community awareness about the importance of conserving natural resources and curbing pollution for nurturing a safe, stable and healthy environment.
The ADM’s participation in this annual global event also signals its commitment to conserving the environment, combating the climate change, and conserving energy at the local level. It also illustrates the importance of curbing gas emissions resulting from global warming; which is the biggest challenge facing the planet in a bid to ensure a better life on earth.
Musabbah Mubarak Al Murar, Acting General Manager of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, spoke about the event and said, “The Abu Dhabi City Municipality is keen on nurturing the standards of sustainable development in all projects undertaken. It has enhanced its role in fostering the values of renewable energy and introduced policies capable of ensuring the largest possible saving of energy in terms of water or electricity. It has also used the latest lighting systems in streets (LED lights) and opted to undertake projects in the field of producing renewable energy based on utilizing solar power. It has also initiated the energy management project in the existing buildings with a view to reducing power and water consumption and applying the best and most feasible consumption techniques.” “The Municipality’s participation in the Earth Hour event signals its values as well as the environmental policies adopted by Abu Dhabi Government in conserving power consumption and promoting the use of sustainable and renewable energy. The concerted efforts of all concerned patties as well as community members will trigger the potentials towards realising a joint vision of conserving and protecting natural resources,” stated Al Murar.
The Abu Dhabi City Municipality has succeeded in implementing the sustainable general lighting strategy standards in new projects in conjunction with plans made to redress general lighting attitudes by installing thousands of lighting units as per the new standards and specifications, said Wam.
“The lighting strategy brings about many benefits highlighted by reducing the total cost by about 40 percent over the next twenty years compared to previous standards. This policy also meets the best lighting standards worldwide, reduces energy consumption by more than 60, minimizes CO2 emissions by 75 percent and cuts equipment and maintenance by 40 percent to 80 percent in the future,” added Al Murar.
– By Sheena Amos