Wasteful habits are to blame for Dubai's rock eting levels of electricity consumption, a top official has said.
Power usage rose by more than 17 per cent between and 2005 and 2006 and is expected to shoot up again this year.
"Our figures indicate severe waste in Dubai is among the highest in the world," Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, director-general of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), told our sister paper Emarat Al Youm.
"It exceeds daily consumption levels of countries such as the United States, Britain, Japan, Sweden and France." Last year the average Dubai resident consumed 1,500 kilowatts per hour. And the emi rate's overall consumption of 19,457 gigawatts per hour was 17.5 per cent higher than the figure of 16,572GW per hour recorded in 2005.
But while unavoidable factors such as steadily increasing construction and population account for some of the increase, the habits of Dubai residents are an unnecessary contributor to the problem.
An Emirates Today survey revealed that many residents were ignorant, or unmindful, of the many things they could do to reduce their power and water consumption.
And as water in the UAE is mainly derived from fossil-fuel powered desalination, saving water saves power as well.
Peter Hall, a manager from the United Kingdom, admitted he left his air-conditioner - the single largest contribu tor to Dubai's public power consumption problem - running even when he was not at home. "Yes, for my dog," he said. He estimated the system kept his house at an overly cool 22C.
Emirati Omer Al Bussaidy, 21, said his family also left their air-conditioner on when they were out because to turn it off would let the house's temperature become "sticky".
And though not all residents were unmindful of power and water conservation methods, those who were more careful admitted they were mostly looking to save money.
James Vaz, a 29 year old Indian graphic designer, said he never left the lights or air conditioner on in a room when it was empty "because it saves money and because I have been brought up to switch them off".
Amal Koshak, deputy manager of Dewa's Demand Department, said residents could cut their utility bill by 10 to 15 per cent by making simple choices.
"The more power and water you use, the more carbon is emitted," she said.
By Sami al Reyami, Zarina Khan
© Emirates Today 2007
