Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
From adjusting air-conditioning by 1°C to fixing leaking taps, simple habit changes at home can significantly cut electricity and water consumption, helping Abu Dhabi curb its carbon emissions, according to an official at the Department of Energy (DoE).
The DoE is promoting responsible electricity and water use through its "Your Safety is Our Priority" campaign, running until early November.
"Switching off unused appliances, using energy-efficient equipment, repairing leaking taps, and installing water-saving fixtures can reduce household electricity consumption by 10–30% and water use by 20–50%," said Ahmed Al Falasi, Energy Efficiency Sector Executive Director at the DoE.
The awareness drive comes as Abu Dhabi advances its wider energy efficiency goals, with measures potentially delivering up to 50% of the emissions reductions needed to reach net zero by 2050.
In an interview with Aletihad, Al Falasi said public behaviour is key to Abu Dhabi's energy security, efficiency and sustainability - particularly during periods of peak demand.
Everyday measures within households can lower bills, ease pressure on the network, and conserve resources, supporting a more sustainable Abu Dhabi, he said.
Al Falasi listed changes that make a difference when adopted collectively: Raising air conditioner temperature settings by 1°C; carrying out quarterly maintenance of cooling, electrical and gas systems with qualified professionals; fixing water leaks promptly; and avoiding unnecessary electricity and water use - all these count. Switching to LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances can help too, he added.
"When adopted across thousands of homes and businesses, these small behavioural changes can collectively avoid thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions each year," Al Falasi said.
Managing Demand
The emirate aims to cut energy demand by 22% and water demand by 32% by 2030. To meet that target, the DoE has combined awareness campaigns with demand-side management initiatives, focusing behavioural change efforts on three levels: society, policy and systems, and individual consumption habits.
"Our initial step was to baseline societal attitudes, using a large-scale survey of around 4,000 Abu Dhabi residents to inform the design and development of key initiatives," Al Falasi said.
As part of the strategy, more than 11,000 domestic helpers were trained in energy and water conservation, and over 50,000 homes received comparisons of their energy use, he said.
"These efforts, alongside broader sector programmes and efficiency measures, contributed to savings in 2025 of approximately 9.65 TWh of electricity and 339 million cubic metres of water." These figures, he added, demonstrate the tangible value of promoting responsible resource use.
Safety First
Beyond efficiency, responsible consumption also means prioritising safety in how electricity and water are used. "The most underestimated risks are often the everyday ones," Al Falasi said.
"Many residents may not realise the strain that prolonged use of air conditioning and electrical appliances can place on household electrical systems - particularly when extension cords are overloaded, equipment is poorly maintained, or damaged wiring goes unnoticed."
Electrical faults are estimated to contribute to around 20–25% of residential fires in many countries, he added, making regular electrical and gas maintenance essential.
Al Falasi said unsafe energy use isn't confined to any one sector or community; it's being driven by rising demand across the emirate as reliance on cooling systems and electrical appliances grows.
"This makes safe and responsible energy use especially important to protect people, property, and the reliability of the wider energy system during periods of peak consumption," he said.
