As part of SEWA's (Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority) commitment to raise awareness about protecting the environment and power conservation,  SEWA had launched on July 1 an annual "One Hour Saving" initiative with aim to promote a culture of conservation and raise communal awareness regarding rational use of electricity and reducing toxic emissions.

As per recent surveys conducted by SEWA on consumption trends during the last five years, July 1 witnessed the highest demand for power in conjunction with high temperatures and humidity, particularly when such time coincides with the Holy Month of Ramadan.   That's why the time selected for the initiative was 2:30 to 3:30 pm (July 1 every year).

Public were urged to switch off all unnecessary devices during this one hour, while businesses, individuals and families also joined hands in observing One Hour Saving. 

This initiative was so successful that it saved 22.5MW in one hour. This proved that there is big scope of energy saving .

The initiative symbolises something beyond the designated hour, and demonstrates that "if we all commit to a simple action for the sake of the environment, we can make a difference".

After that initiative , now this week Sharjah has been declared the "City of Conservation " for the next two years to achieve sustainable development in the emirate.

As part of the declaration of Sharjah as the City of Conservation  and in an ambitious new move, Sharjah plans to slash power and water use by at least 30 per cent over the next five years.

Currently, the daily peak power consumption is 2,200 megawatts (MW) while the daily water use is 110 million gallons. If the target is achieved, it would mean savings of 660MW and 33 million gallons per day, which also represent enormous cutbacks in pollution and bills.

The target is achievable ( as is evident from the success of annual "One Hour Saving" initiative) and would be met through a variety of means, including "technical ones" focused on industry and infrastructure and household conservation drives.

At the same time, power production efficiency would be boosted by 50 per cent, loss in the power network minimised to three per cent or less, and loss in the water network minimised to 10 per cent or below.

SEWA is confident that we will be exceeding the 30 per cent goal .SEWA is not asking people to switch off electricity, water and gas. They are advising to " Switch on what you need, switch off what you don't need".

Strategies & Initiatives

Using the power saving lights at all government building, commercial establishment and streets, raising the efficiency of power production by about 50 per cent and reduce the running costs at SEWA power generation stations, minimizing the loss in the power networks to the globally acceptable rate (3 per cent), minimize the loss in the water networks to the globally acceptable rate (10 per cent).

Raising the public awareness about the importance of regular maintenance of the electrical devices and the continuous check of the internal water installation to avoid any invisible leaks.

The strategies include launching awareness drives targeting the students of the schools and universities and all community categories under the theme:" With conservation, we are all beneficiaries"

The initiatives will be launched with community members, individual, schools, sports clubs and cultural club to spread conservation awareness.

Sharjah is also rolling out smart meters that show live readings and consumption graphs. If consumers  see it's going up to the next slab, they can switch it off. They can see their average and see if there's something wrong in their house .

Moreover, SEWA will replace conventional lights in more than 50,000 street poles with energy-efficient LED lights. A pilot project showed that the replacement slashed consumption by four megawatts to 1.2MW in 12 hours.

Any company opening shop in Sharjah would have to get a "No objection Certificate" from SEWA from August onwards to ensure compliance with standards.

There would also be pressure monitoring devices in the water network that would automatically and instantly flag an alert in case of a leak or drop in pressure.

SEWA have conducted a range of awareness campaigns to encourage everyone to be more conscious and aware of how much electricity and water they use so that everyone can make greater efforts to rationalise their use .

objective of the declaration

Declaration aimed at raising the efficiency of power and water consumption in the Emirate of Sharjah and reduction of at least 30 per cent of power consumption, enhancing the role of Sharjah city as the international model for power and water conservation, achieving the sustainable development and maintain rights of our next generation in the natural resources, maintaining the environment through the rational use of eco-friendly fuels and application of the latest international standards to eliminate pollution and emission of greenhouse gases as per the Kyoto Protocol, then international treaty linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets raising the awareness of all community categories about the rational use of power and water.

Sources :

The National

The Gulf Today

Gulf News

Being a resident of Sharjah, I' really pleased to know that the Emirate has been declared the 'City of Conservation'