ABU DHABI //The municipality's headquarters will now be partially powered using solar energy as part of the capital's plan to implement eco-friendly measures in its municipal buildings.
Starting yesterday, a portion of the electricity used at the Salam Street office will come from renewable sources.
The move is part of three-phase initiative - called the Integrated Power Management Project - aimed at reducing power consumption and increasing sustainability efforts in the capital.
The goal is to use solar panels on all municipal building rooftops.
"The energy management and production programme based on using alternative methods will bear its first fruits this week," said Salah al Sarraj, the acting executive director of the town-planning sector.
Mr al Sarraj said the municipality had reduced its power consumption between 2009 and 2010 by eight per cent. Once the initiative is completed, consumption is expected to drop between 25 and 30 per cent. The capital also has a goal of deriving 7 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
The final phase of the power-management programme, which launched in March 2010, will continue with the introduction of more solar panels to buildings in Abu Dhabi. The first two phases studied power consumption patterns and led to the development of a strategic plan for boosting efficiency and lowering consumption.