DUBAI // Energy-efficient lamps will replace 80 per cent of traditional lights in the emirate’s residential buildings and workplaces this year and will be mandatory for all new buildings under construction.
Use of Dubai Lamps cut electricity use by up to 90 per cent and they last an average of 15 times longer than a conventional lamp based on the usage of 1,000 hours per year, proponents says.
Dubai Municipality signed a contract with Philips Lighting on Monday for the design, manufacture and supply of two million lamps which will be made available by the end of the year.
The lamps are characterised as environmentally friendly, as they do not contain mercury or generate heat, save costs and the spread of ultraviolet light.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, said 10 million Dubai Lamps could be in use by 2021.
Mr Lootah also said use of the Dubai Lamp will be mandatory for all new buildings.
“It will be made the basic requirement for getting a building completion certificate. This will be beneficial for both sides. The owner of the building will be able to save a lot of money on energy charges and we will able to protect the environment.
“In the beginning, we will concentrate on new buildings. We will make a study of old buildings to see what can be done. The municipality will also focus on big complexes such as schools, hospitals, mosques and other major buildings.”
Mr Lootah said the latest agreement was in line with the government directives, supported the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy which targets a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption by 2030, and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy which is aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021.
The manufacturing and supply of lamps will begin in March this year, and will be available in four models, both in cool daylight and warm white colours.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae