Dubai: A private school in Jumeirah has saved more than Dh235,000 in a year by making small changes around its premises to save on electricity and water use.
Al Ittihad Private School, Jumeirah Branch, used to see its summer electricity and water bill top Dh130,000 before sensors and timers were installed to control consumption.
The school, which caters to 1700 students from kindergarten to grade 12, used 18.5 per cent less electricity and 20.3 per cent less water with the automated devices.
Watering a lawn manually would take up to 45 minutes and unknown gallons of water. Today irrigation timers switch on sprinklers using treated effluent water for up to 15 minutes twice a day.
A special line pipes in treated sewage water from Al Aweer sewage treatment plant specifically to water large green areas — a norm at golf clubs and parks around the city.
"Our target was to reduce the electricity and water use to benefit society, the environment, and our bill," said Aziza Qaziha, activity coordinator at the school.
Award for conservation
Qaziha has been at the school since it was built 12 years ago. This is the first year such initiatives by the student body and the school have been rewarded by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) through the "Conservation Award — For a Better Tomorrow 2010-2011".
Tenth grader Aseel Al Bassam, 15, from Saudi Arabia, is part of the Eco-Rangers club, and with co-members Mariam Al Shami, 12, and Alia Al Zaabi, 15, from the UAE and Huda Baghdady, 15, from Egypt, they strive to raise awareness at home and at school.
The school has a five year plan to go green with solar water heaters for the swimming pool, said Nihad Saeed Al Shamsi, the school director. In the meantime the light bulbs have been changed to energy efficient ones, the taps have low-flow faucets and anyone caught littering will have the Eco-Rangers to deal with.
Savings
Al Ittihad Private School, Jumeirah, managed to save Dh235,744 in one year after installing sensors and timers on air conditioning units, lighting and irrigation systems.
CO2 saved: 326,333kg, electricity saved: 500,344 kwh, water saved: 2,015,944 gallons.
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