By ; Mohamed El Khouly
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded prizes to the winners of the 3rd Ideal Home initiative, which it launched in partnership with 9 Dubai Government organisations to encourage customers to follow the best sustainability practices at their homes. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to promote sustainable living within society.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, presented the prizes to the eight winners who implemented the initiative’s highest standards in their homes. The first winner, Amal Eissa Al Mehairi, received AED50,000; the 2nd winner, Ali Bilal Mubarak Al Jessmi, received AED30,000, and the 3rd winner, Afraa Saeed Al Mehairi, received AED20,000. Winners in 4th to 8th place will have solar panels installed at their homes. Al Tayer also honoured the initiative’s partners.
The event was attended by HE Major General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA); HE Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; HE Khalifa Al Darai, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS); Major General Khalil Al Mansoori, Assistant Commander for the Criminal Investigation Affairs in Dubai Police; and representatives from the Executive Council of Dubai; the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); Dubai Health Authority (DHA); Dubai Civil Defence; Smart Dubai; the Community Development Authority in Dubai; and a number of officials from the government and private sectors.
“The Ideal Home initiative has achieved its objectives in promoting the importance of adopting sustainable practices for society. It has seen a strong turnout from customers since its launch. This year, 1,830 customers participated in the online training that DEWA organised. This shows that our customers are keen to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. The initiative contributed to total savings of 1.32 GWh of electricity, around 12 million gallons of water, and around 675 tonnes of carbon emissions, with financial savings that exceed one million dirhams,” said Al Tayer in his welcome speech.
“DEWA launched the Ideal Home Initiative in partnership with nine government organisations. This is part of our joint efforts to achieve the vision of the wise leadership to consolidate Dubai’s position as a global hub for sustainable practices by individuals and organisations alike, as well as make sustainability a way of life. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the best practices and measures to provide a happy and sustainable home environment. This is achieved by reducing the use of electricity and water, enhancing internal air quality, undertaking health, security, and safety precautions, taking part in volunteering and community activities, adhering to residency laws and regulations, registering in smart services, and preparation for emergencies, and other sustainable living practices that contribute to building an ideal society,” added Al Tayer.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said, “We see the government as an active part of society, never as something that is separate or isolated.” In line with this vision, the efforts of government organisations in Dubai complement each other for the happiness of individuals and society as a whole based on an integrated strategy and solid foundations that contribute to achieving comprehensive sustainable development. I would like to commend the efforts of our partners in this initiative: Dubai Police; Dubai Municipality; Dubai Health Authority; the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority; the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs; Dubai Civil Defence; Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; Community Development Authority; and Smart Dubai. We work closely together to achieve a common goal, which is the happiness of people and make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world,” said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer encouraged the winners to continue their efforts to make their homes role models that encourage others to implement the highest standards and best sustainability practices that raise the quality of life and make all homes in Dubai Ideal Homes. This will achieve the vision of the wise leadership to make Dubai a model for the city of the future that achieves happiness and prosperity to its citizens and ensures a brighter and more sustainable future, for generations to come.
“I am pleased that the Ideal Home service has been added to the shared government services that will be enhanced by the City Makers for more development. This supports our joint efforts to achieve the happiness of individuals and society through an integrated system and solid foundations for comprehensive and sustainable development,” said Al Tayer.
Dubai Health Authority
HE Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said that the Ideal Home initiative inspires a sustainable competition to raise the quality of life; starting from people’s homes and their immediate surroundings. This is in accordance with Dubai’s direction to achieve integration and harmony of lifestyles and welfare.
Al Qutami commended the key role of DEWA to raise environmental awareness in the society, improving the climate, conserve energy and undertake all procedures that ensure people’s safety. DHA supports serving people and making them happy. The Ideal Home aligns with several DHA initiatives for a better healthy future. He congratulated the winners and said they created a role model of contemporary life in Dubai. He also thanked the DHA team, which spared no efforts in collaborating with officials and specialists from different government organisations. This serves the community and achieves Dubai’s targets.
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai
HE Major General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai said that the GDRFA Dubai operates within its strategy to work effectively to make the UAE one of the best countries in the world in achieving safety and security. He added that the Department was keen to be part of the ‘Ideal Home’ initiative launched by DEWA as a community initiative that aimed to spread the culture of an ideal home and educate the community about the measures to be taken to provide an ideal and sustainable home environment.
"Our participation in the Ideal Home initiative for the third year in a row continues our efforts to implement the Dubai Plan 2021 to achieve sustainable environment and infrastructure in terms of improving the quality of air, preserving water resources, increasing the contribution of clean energy and implementing green growth plans, through initiatives of a societal and innovative nature. We take into consideration the importance of collaborating with other government entities in activating social responsibility and spreading the culture of sustainability to build an ideal and happy society," Al Marri said.
Dubai Police
HE Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, commended DEWA's collaborative initiative with 9 government organisations. He confirmed that the initiative is unique and follows the Smart Dubai initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world by establishing environmental sustainability in the Emirate.
Al Marri commended the initiative that instils an ideal culture, for a happy environment, among families in Dubai. He stressed the importance of honouring homeowners with the highest standards of environmental protection, sustainability, health, security, public safety, community responsibility and smart transformation. Al Marri highlighted that the initiative contributes to preserving natural resources, reducing energy demand, and reducing consumption. He stressed that Dubai Police is keen on participating and implementing the initiative to support environmental initiatives and sustainable development to achieve security, health, and public safety in the community.
Dubai Municipality
“The Ideal Home initiative is an important community initiative, which has proven a distinct success, measured for all participants by many government agencies, especially as it reflects the aspects and content of a luxurious life in Dubai, and consolidates an advanced model of quality and modernity that DM works to reinforce with a set of qualitative and distinctive initiatives, for healthy lifestyles that are based on innovative ideas and smart means," said HE Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality (DM).
“DM participates actively in all influential community initiatives in Dubai, which aim to renew and improve the quality of current and future life, and to enhance the principles of environmental protection and preservation, and to improve public health and establish safety and security frameworks at all times, noting that DM endeavours to ensure fruitful and constructive cooperation with all government departments and institutions in Dubai to achieve these noble goals, which in turn aims to promote the ideal lifestyle to achieve happiness and sustainable resources for future generations,” added Al Hajri.
Dubai Civil Defence
“Households that are aware of the highest standards of safety, community responsibility, and apply best practices and behaviours that ensure lives and protection of property, conserve energy and natural resources, and sustain the environment are the ones that can make their homes ‘ideal’. Therefore, we considered the ‘Ideal Home’ initiative launched by DEWA, in cooperation with other government agencies in Dubai, including Dubai Civil Defense, an important step to enhance community environment safety,” said HE Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Commander in Chief of Dubai Civil Defence.
“The Ideal Home initiative provides a good opportunity to express the joint and sustainable goals shared by DCD and DEWA with other partners, since it integrates with Dubai Civil Defense current applications and its futuristic vision: Smart Civil Defense for a smart city, which enables people to live happily in a risk-free and sustainable environment, based on the principle of all being involved in achieving safety. The misuse of energy and negligence in fire safety measures are the main causes of risks, hence we are dedicated as one government team to work with the community to spread a culture of safety that makes the home an ideal safe place to maintain life, wealth and environment, and protect these from damage caused due to malpractices,” added Almatrooshi.
Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services
HE Khalifa Al Darai, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) commended the great achievements of the ‘Ideal Home’ initiative launched by DEWA. The initiative highlights the importance of protecting the environment and focuses on the safety and security procedures of households in Dubai. It also promotes protecting natural resources, which has enhanced the commitment of most Dubai residents to those great principles that support the comprehensive development of Dubai and the UAE in general. He said that the initiative created a sense of competition towards perfection. The initiative also provided an ideal environment for creativity in saving energy and protecting resources for generations to come. Al Darai wished that the Ideal Home initiative will be the beginning of an ideal and smart Dubai, that makes it the happiest and best country in the world. This is in accordance with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the keenness of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council to encourage and unify efforts and initiatives that promote the culture of responsible consumption of resources; following the security, health, and safety procedures; adhering to the laws that facilitate the quality of life and seamless integrated services. This achieves the Dubai Plan and the UAE Vision 2021; in this regard.
Smart Dubai
“As Smart Dubai is the government entity tasked with spearheading Dubai’s transformation into a world-class smart city, our ultimate objective is to make sure the emirate’s citizens, residents, and visitors lead happy lives. With that goal in mind, we regard technology not as an end in itself, but as a means to make people’s lives easier, tailoring the most advanced technologies into easy-to-use services at their disposal,” said HE Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai.
“Following our wise leadership’s directives to work together with government and private-sector partners, we are delighted to be joining hands with DEWA on this project to promote sustainable practices among the community. Sustainable development is the cornerstone of smart-city transformation; and Smart Dubai gives unlimited support to all efforts that ensure people’s happiness and wellbeing,” added Bin Bishr.
Community Development Authority
HE Ahmed Julfar, Director General of CDA said encouraging and empowering individuals and families in Dubai to adopt ideal and sustainable lifestyles is a joint effort that requires cooperation between the authorities to expand awareness about the health and environmental standards in enhancing the cohesion of families in Dubai, making it a role model in the world. “CDA through the initiative, is responsible for increasing community participation in creating awareness and voluntary work, and activities that support the rights of people of determination in sustainable home environments. One of the most important factors of sustainability in ideal homes is their adaptation to the needs of people of determination and senior citizens in terms of health and safety.
The winners commended DEWA for promoting the best sustainable practices in their homes, and for providing the free online training on its website. The course includes short awareness videos about the criteria for the initiative’s partners to enable customers to turn their homes into ideal homes. An energy and water audit for the residential sector was created for 70 short-listed candidates. This covered all aspects of energy and water use in homes and provided tips to reduce energy and water use.
