Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) today celebrated with the winners of the 10th Conservation Award 2014-2015, under the theme For a Better Tomorrow, at a ceremony organised by DEWA at Grand Hyatt hotel in Dubai. This is part of DEWAs commitment to promote a culture of conservation and environmental awareness, and to encourage individuals and institutions to adopt best practices in conserving the environment.

The ceremony was attended by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, HE Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Dr. Ahmad Eid Al Mansouri, Director of Dubai Educational Zone, Major General Mohammed Saeed Bakhit, Director of the Services and Equipment department at Dubai Police, HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dr. Eesa Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, a number of officials from Dubai government departments, and representatives from the public and private sectors. The ceremony was also attended by officials from DEWA, KHDA, Dubai Education Zone, and faculty, administrators, and students of Dubais educational institutions.

The Conservation Award honours educational institutions for their efforts to reduce electricity and water consumption.

The Conservation Award, organised in cooperation with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Dubai Educational Zone, is now in its tenth year. This will achieve the objectives of the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It also complements the UAE Vision 2021 to rank the UAE among the best in the world in all areas of growth, including sustainable development and green practices. The Conservation Award also supports the Dubai Plan 2021, to establish Dubai as a smart, integrated and connected city, sustainable with its resources, and where environmental elements are clean, healthy and sustainable. 10 years ago, we launched the Conservation Award under the theme, For a Better Tomorrow as part of our strategy to promote the rational use of resources, highlight best practices to reduce electricity and water consumption, reduce wastage, and thus ensure a brighter future for generations to come, said Al Tayer.

DEWA is aware of the major role played by the educational sector in Dubai in promoting a culture of environmental sustainability among community members, especially among young people. The Award has been launched to focus on raising awareness among students, and to urge individuals and institutions to adopt rational consumption of resources as part of their lifestyle. We organise various activities, initiatives and awareness campaigns throughout the year, in line with our leaderships directives to conserve resources, reduce the carbon footprint and ensure a bright future for our citizens and residents alike, added Al Tayer.

Our partnership with KHDA and Dubai Educational Zone for the Conservation Award has helped to achieve significant results, year after year. We have previously honoured 162 educational institutions and communicated the message of sustainability to over 273,000 students. The total savings achieved by the educational institutions, students and faculty members in electricity consumption since the inception of the Awards is 125 GWh and 1.024 billion gallons in water consumption. This contributed to reducing nearly 67,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, with financial savings worth AED 90 million, added Al Tayer.

Weve seen your efforts and support for sustainability. You have rolled out several bright initiatives such as using solar energy in your facilities, replacing traditional lighting with energy-efficient LED lamps and using drip irrigation systems. We are delighted by the awareness campaigns that you conducted in the neighbourhoods and your participation in various events and environmental activities. All this has had a profound impact on attaining the desired outcome of promoting the rational consumption of electricity and water, concluded Al Tayer.

I would like to start by congratulating everyone involved in this years Conservation Award on their passion and positive energy towards energy conservation. The tremendous savings achieved this year are a great indication of this passion and of the sense of responsibility that students and educational institutes have towards the community and future generations. This also highlights how we are all committed towards achieving the vision of His Highness. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a smart and sustainable city. This achievement would not have been possible without the Conservation Award ambassadors. We are certain that their role in the coming years will only increase for a better and happier tomorrow, said Al Karam.

Al Mansouri commended the excellent efforts of DEWA as the right partner to achieve its objectives. He noted that the Award is considered one of the most prominent social initiatives that directly contributes to the thinking and behavioural change of Emiratis and residents.

Al Mansouri called for innovation in conservation tools and to extend the Award to the other Emirates in the UAE.

Our partnership with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority comes to create a bright future for us and our coming generations. Now students are able to make a difference in what they are supposed to do. Projects, thoughts and applications of Dubai students and the huge numbers of people who are rationalising and saving electricity and water is the best evidence. The Conservation Award for a better tomorrow realises outstanding results through the visions and innovations of our students and it keeps the aspiration towards spreading the culture of rationalisation as a society lifestyle. Dubai students in all their practices and through tracing their numbers and achievements they made every year, have proved their aptitude to deserve the title of Future Leaders, who are able to promote ambition. This would not have happened without the cooperation of the three dimensions: the student, the school and the parents. Our appreciation to all parties who enriched students ambition towards a bright future for Dubai and The UAE. Again we thank and appreciate these students, schools, and parents, said Al Mansouri.

Each sector, category and segment in society plays an important role in supporting the vision and strategy of the government. When we talk about public awareness of important social issues such as environmental protection and conservation of resources, we want to reach the national goal effectively. The educational sector plays a big role in this. Our young men and women are our most important national resource and the most precious treasure of the UAE. We place our hopes in them to achieve a bright future and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices in electricity and water consumption. The Conservation Award is an icon for leading community-based initiatives that aim to educate the community, and support national and institutional strategies through innovative techniques, said Amal Koshak, Senior Manager of Marketing Communications at DEWA.

The Conservation Award contributed to a significant savings this year, as the Facilities Management category achieved reduced electricity consumption by 7% and water consumption by 20%. The Home Consumer segment achieved 10% reduction in electricity consumption, and 15% in water consumption. The total saving in electricity was 12 million kW and of water was 102 million gallons. This contributed to the reduction of nearly 5,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and financial savings of AED 10 million.

The winners include 18 educational institutions covering nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, universities, colleges, special needs centres, adult education centres. Six best conservation teams at various levels of education, and three winners of the Home Consumers category were also honoured.

Al Tayer, Al Karam and Al Mansouri honoured the winners. In the category of Facility Management, Dubai Autism Centre (Special needs centres) and Dubai Polices Adult education centre ranked first.

The winners in the high school level category were Delhi Private School in 1st place, Asmaa Bint Al-Nouman Model School in 2nd place and Star International School won third place.

For universities, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University ranked 1st place and University of Dubai won the second 2nd place.

The Primary school winners were Al Saada School ranked 1st, Al Khaleej National School in 2nd place and Al Ibdaa Model School in 3rd place. For Elementary schools, Al Shaab School for Basic Education was 1st place, Sultan Al Owais Boys School 2nd place, and Al Aweer Girls School for Basic Education 3rd place. For Kindergartens, the Ambassador Kindergarten was 1st place, Al Manhal Kindergarten came 2nd, and Al Huda kindergarten ranked 3rd. For nurseries, Alphabet Street Nursery was 1st and Kangaroo Kids Nursery 2nd.

Six schools received the award for the category of Conservation Excellence Team. The winning teams included Al Nada Nursery, Zayed bin Sultan School for Basic Education, Al Waha School, Our Own high School in Al Warqa, BITS Pilani School, and Al Noor Training for children with Special Needs. For Home Consumers, Jesil Shaiju Anthony from Our Own High School in Al Warqaa was 1st, Sree Sakthi D R from the Indian International School came second and Abdullah Mohammed Rahil from Our Own High School in Al Warqaa came third.

Early supporters of the award 10 years ago were also honoured. They included Ibrahim Al-Zu'bi, Abdul Aziz Zakaria, Badreya Yasi, Jamal Al Theeb, Jaffar Al Fardan, Fatima Al Zaabi, Mahboba Al Ansari, Fatima Yusuf, Khuloud Al Mutawa, Husniya Al Ali, and Jihad Kamal.

Schools that won the award more than three times were honoured. These included: Al Manahal Kindergarten, Al Baraa kindergarten, Asma Bint Al-Nu'man School and Al Ibdaa Model Primary School.

Al Tayer thanked KHDA and Dubai Educational Zone for their support and cooperation and all those who contributed to the success of the campaign. Wishing the students all success, he said that the next session of the Award program will be extended for two years.

Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, and Amal Koshak, Senior Manager of Marketing Communications at DEWA, honoured the participating educational institutions.