Dubai Airports’ efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in 2016 saved the equivalent of powering 235 homes for a full year.
The report from Dubai Airports was revealed ahead of its participation in Earth Hour, when all non-essential lights across Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) were switched off for one hour.
The energy savings are a result of a number of initiatives, including the installation of energy efficient systems, participations in events such as Earth Hour and World Clean Up Day, and new projects including using solar panels on the concourse D building at DXB, which began operation in February 2016.
A large proportion of the savings were thanks to the replacement the traditional lighting for streetlights, signage and airfield with LEDs. The optimization of chiller plants at DXB and DWC with energy saving variable frequency drives for pumps, and automation for demand-based flow also helped conserve energy.
Michael Ibbotson, executive vice president of technology and infrastructure at Dubai Airports, said, “In line with the long-term goals of [the] aviation industry, the Airports Council International and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), Dubai Airports’ vision is to ultimately attain carbon-neutral growth. Our achievements in 2016 represent an important step in that direction.
“Dubai Airports is constantly seeking to implement innovative ideas and new technologies to limit our environmental impact in full support of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Environmental Strategy, the Dubai Plan and UAE Vision 2021.”