The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is celebrating the global event Earth Hour on March 30, 2019, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. RTA will turn off at least 1,433 streetlights along Business Street, Al Saada Street, Boulevard Street (Burj Khalifa), Al Mamzar Beach Street, the parking lot of Shandagha Heritage Village and Al Khaleej Street to save about 683.7 kilowatts.
This year’s event is held under the theme “Connect2Earth” under the auspices of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and in conjunction with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
The CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector Chair of Energy and Green Economy Committee at the RTA, Nasir Abu Shehab said, “The RTA has charted out a plan for this year’s Earth Hour events, which will be held today from 08:30 pm to 09:30 pm.”
He also said, as part of the Marina Promenade celebrations at the Business Bay, the RTA will run several activities including children games and contests, hydrogen-powered taxi, and a model of the bus-washing water treatment plant. Two buses will be deployed to lift participants from the Business Bay MS to the site of the event”.
Lights and some air-conditioners will also be turned off at RTA Head Office, Main Customers Happiness Centre at Umm Al Ramool, Public Transport building in addition to Al Rawiyya and Al Khawaneej stations, and Jebel Ali Bus Depot. Lights will also be switched off on the 5th floor of the Parking Terminal of Rashidiya MS, premises of the Dubai Taxi Corporation and employees’ accommodation.
Several Metro Stations will switch to the maintenance mode, and some escalators at metro stations will cease operation. The overall saving resulting from the switching off streetlights and facilities of the RTA is expected to be in the order of 10,000 kilowatts in one hour.
