New TV rules to reduce UAE electricity bills by 50%

Abu Dhabi - This will reduce the value of government financial support by up to Dh73 million.

The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, ESMA, has developed its eighth national energy efficiency programme, the TV Efficiency Project, which is expected to reduce the cost of electricity bills by some 50 per cent, as well as reduce government subsidies for electricity generation costs, as part of the UAE Green Growth Strategy.
The UAE Cabinet has approved the project, which will serve the UAE Green Growth Strategy, especially in its fifth track on the green economy initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Abdullah Al Maeeni, ESMA's Director General, confirmed that the Authority recommended the issuance of federal legislation to ensure that the implementation is mandatory. The draft was prepared based upon the study of many regional and international laws and regulations.
This regulation is also consistent with characteristics of television systems and the most important European legislation to increase energy efficiency.
This will reduce the value of government financial support by up to Dh73 million and contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 225 thousand meters cube, equivalent of the cultivation of 150 thousand trees, he said.
"Through this legislation, we aim to reduce the rate of annual consumption of electricity in the country by targeting products that will be classified as 4-5 stars in the project proposed to the UAE Cabinet.
"The main outputs of the project, which ESMA has studied and proposed, are to contribute to educating the community and directing them to acquire products of high efficiency in performance and energy consumption, including TV sets and systems to meet the requirements of raising efficiency levels," Al Maeeni said.
The implementation of the project has resulted in increasing the efficiency of imported electrical appliances to UAE markets, and aims to reduce the volume of energy consumption by 319 million kilowatts.
According to ESMA, there were 2.7 million electrical appliances participating in energy efficiency programs during the past year, an increase of about 1.2 million new appliances. These included 604,000 household air conditioners, 658,000 washing machines and dryers, 347,000 refrigerators and freezers, as well as some one million electric storage water heaters.

• UAE