As authorities sprang into action to drain waterlogging, tenants and homeowners had to navigate the aftermath of nature's unpredictability
The Sharjah Electricity, Gas and Water Authority (SEWGA) saved 3.78 million (m) litres, or 39 per cent of water consumption, worth Dh70,000 last year.
The SEWGA pulled off the feat following the installation of 584 rationalisation devices in various public, government facilities, and mosques.
Saeed Al Suwaidi, the Chairman of SEWGA, said that the entity provided all necessary technical support and organised awareness programmes to rationalise water and energy consumption in the emirate's residential and commercial buildings.
Plans are afoot to use smart technology to conserve energy and water.
Rashid Al Marzouqi, the Deputy Director of the Conservation Department, SEWGA, said the optimum utilisation of water was carried out in nine government-run buildings and mosques.
The initiative to conserve energy resources is being conducted in three phases.
In the first phase, an assessment is in progress for power and water consumption in government-run buildings.
The authorities are assessing the following parameters such as reducing water consumption, controlling the functioning of air conditioning (AC) from 22 to 24 degrees Celsius (C) and ensuring no leakage of water in buildings.
The second phase is to take adequate technical measures to rationalise energy and water consumption in government-run buildings and cooperate with the emirate's agencies to create more awareness among end-users.
The third phase will focus on government-run buildings and evaluate the measures that have been implemented.
There will be a mechanism to compare the quantity of consumption of both water and power before and after the implementation of the rationalisation measures in a bid to get a sense about the outcome of the exercise.
Ahmed Al Mehdhar, who heads the Consumption Control Department at SEWGA, said that devices have been installed in government-run buildings, where the flow of water did not exceed 1.9 litres per minute.
The building authorities were told to turn off the ACs and lights after working hours and in unoccupied areas. They were instructed to adjust ACs' temperature control device, or thermostat, at 24 degrees C, which is the optimum degree for cooling.
Besides, emphasis is being laid on reducing the level of intensity of lightning at entrance of buildings and changing regular bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs and periodic maintenance of elevators and all other electrical appliances.
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