This news is in keeping with the UAE’s goal to increase reliance on renewable fuels, reduce reliance on polluting energy sources and to encourage sustainable lifestyles. When speaking about reducing energy consumption, we think in terms of fossil fuels for automobiles and so on. However, we don’t often think in terms of our household appliances as contributing to the problem of energy consumption, carbon footprint and pollution.
It is expected that ESMA’s eight national energy efficiency programme, the TV Efficiency Project, may reduce energy bills by up to 50%. There will be the added benefit of reducing government subsidies for electricity generation costs. The recommendations are based on the study of several international regulations and legal provisions.
The national strategy is aimed at meeting environmental challenges and strengthening the economy against fluctuations in the hydrocarbon fuel market. The idea is to reduce dependence on oil-based energy and to encourage diversification.
According to ESMA (the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology), it is possible to reduce power consumption by upgrading home appliances such as TVs, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers etc. About 159,000 updated energy efficiency cards have been issued, which has achieved remarkable success in reducing energy consumption. The upgrade has resulted in about 7% reduction in power consumption.
The UAE cabinet has approved the programme which will target products classified as 4 to 5-star energy efficient products. The programme will educate people about the benefits of buying energy-efficient products that will lower their energy bills as well as reduce the overall pressure on the grid.
Not only will consumers lower their electricity bills, this will also help to save about Dh73 million for the exchequer. It will contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 225 thousand cubic metres (which is about the same as 150 thousand trees being planted).
With the programme in place, the appliances that are now imported into the UAE are of a high quality. About 2.7 million electrical appliances were a part of the programme in 2018, which was an increase of about 1.2 million new appliances. These are energy efficient products that consume less electricity – TV sets, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, water storage heaters and so on.
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