The reduction of energy costs is a key concern for developers across the region, especially during the summer months when scorching temperatures and humidity levels reach an all-time high. With a sunny climate all year round, conserving resources, boosting efficiency and managing utility costs is high on the agenda of all developers 
and consumers – residential and commercial alike. With air conditioning accounting for 70% of energy consumption in the region, and the government’s commitment to making the UAE a global hub and successful model for the green economy and sustainable development, effective energy management is essential to reducing overall consumption costs and aligning with industry standards.
With the aid of an energy management consultancy like Logic Utilities, owners and Owner Associations of both residential and commercial developments can ensure the fair distribution of chilled energy costs by installing and operating an accurate metering system and charging on actual consumption by each tenant/unit rather than a flat rate. This encourages tenants to be mindful of their air-conditioning usage, cut down unnecessary consumption and become accountable when it comes to the responsible usage of energy resources. When occupants become aware of their individual consumptions costs, their conservation efforts increase, resulting in the reduction of the overall utility bill and a 15-20% drop in the property’s overall chilled energy consumption. With the cost of cooling a building averaging at AED410,000 per year, a 20% decrease makes for considerable cost – not to mention energy – savings.
Recent initiatives by district cooling providers have dramatically increased efficiency by reducing energy and water consumption, with the installation of individual sub-meters in properties enabling real estate developers and Owners Associations to allocate chilled energy costs to owners and tenants in a fair and efficient manner, on the basis of consumption. Despite these efforts, consumers often complain of high utility bills. By adopting a number of simple tips, consumers and developers can make the most of their available resources, saving energy and cutting costs on their air-conditioning bills.
Temperature control is imperative when looking to reduce overall costs. Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the smartest and cost effective solutions to reducing air-conditioning bills, resulting in cost savings of 5-15%. The more you turn your thermostat up in the warmer months, the more you save. DEWA recommends, especially during electrical peak hours between noon and 5pm that all consumers turn their air-conditioning up from 20°C to 24°C. Apart from cutting consumers’ utility bills, this action, if implemented collectively, saves not only 160,000 tonnes of emissions, but also 270m kWh per year, amounting to AED81m. Putting it into perspective, that energy is sufficient to supply 11,000 apartments with electricity for a period of one year.
Another simple energy conserving and cost-cutting solution is to set the air-conditioner’s fan speed on high, except on very humid days, when it should be set to low. Though seemingly counter intuitive, the slower air movement actually removes more moisture from the air, ensuring a more comfortable environment.
Cooling fans also offer great benefits. While they don’t heat or cool the air, they help circulate it and assist in maintaining an even temperature, requiring less power and taking the strain off the cooling system. Ceiling fans often come with two settings, clockwise and counterclockwise. The counterclockwise setting helps move the breeze around, facilitating in cooling the space, especially in the summer months. In the cooler months, the clockwise setting traps heat and warms the room. In instances when ceiling fans are not available, stand-alone fans, positioned correctly, can still aid in circulation.
Detailed audits of your property will also provide specific recommendations for individual real estate developments, as no two are the same. A number of basic recommendations can help reduce costs including regular maintenance checks of your property infrastructure and systems. Other simple measures such as setting the air conditioning to 24 degrees will ensure optimal performance and reduce energy consumption.
The key to cutting costs and increasing efficiency is being wise with your energy. It is important to note that while the installation of expensive equipment by district cooling companies and utility service providers assists with energy conservation in the long term, these efforts need to be complemented with the engagement of all stakeholders, including consumers. A change in attitude, raised awareness, education and the implementation of the right methods and tools to conserve energy does take effort, but with smart and simple solutions and by engaging the right provider, developers can enjoy drastically reduced consumption costs and achieve internal CSR initiatives by reducing their overall environmental impact.