Physics:World Energy Day

World Energy Day (WED) – is a global initiative first proposed and proclaimed on July 22, 2012 by Prof. Harold Hyun Suk Oh, President of World Energy Forum, endorsed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with representatives of 54 countries, in addition to the United Nations, Arab League and African Union Commission, who consented to make it a yearly event through "Dubai Declaration - Energy for All" on 22 October 2012.

The World Energy Day includes a series of activities to raise awareness of the importance of conservation and rational use of energy and to promote the sustainability of energy. Events include those that cover sustainability, conservation, climate change, carbon emission reduction, and environmental protection. This includes increasing the efficiency of transportation networks, industrial processes, buildings, and the electricity grid. It also aims to increase energy efficiency and sustainability.

What does the logo of the World Energy Day refer to?

The logo includes 6 main factors to ensure energy access for all. These are Oil Resources; Saving Fossil Fuel for Future Generations, Electricity; Energy Conservation, Environment; Green Economy for Sustainable Development, Water Resources; Rational Consumption for Water Resources, Carbon Footprint; A Green Step for a Sustainable Tomorrow, and Solar Energy; Increasing the Use of Renewable Energy.

What are the objectives of the World Energy Day?

The objectives are ensuring the affordability of a safe and sustainable energy for everyone, and identifying the need for developing national policies to reflect a shared global energy perspective. The objectives also include strengthening policies relevant to implementing and developing mechanisms and frameworks to exchange experience between different countries around the world. This includes promoting the development of human resources to pursue the common good of all human beings and continue the rational use of fossil fuels in the global economy while accelerating the process of the transformation to safer and appropriate renewable energy sources.

The aim of organizing this celebration is to support policies that will increase energy efficiency by expanding transportation networks that use efficient energy methods, as well as efficient processes in the industry, construction and electricity networks, plus increasing energy efficiency and sustainability procedures of urban planning regionally.

What is energy efficiency? Why is it important?

Saving energy, increasing efficiency and conservation are all terms used to describe ways we can reduce our overall energy consumption. There are several reasons for why we would do this in our homes:

1. Reduce energy costs
2. Lower the stress we put on the environment and saving our natural resources

The worst predicted impacts of climate change are starting to happen — and much faster than climate scientists expected. Climate change is a global problem, but there's a lot we can do about it in our daily lives. Individual actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can help slow down climate change.

How can I contribute?

As an organization:

Below are some ideas to get involved and take action for World Energy Day 2016:

1. Spread the word. Involve and engage, getting everybody to use #worldenergyday. Spread the word and download the World Energy Day poster, logos, web banners, & social media tool-kit.
2. Create an internal event.

• Organize the screening of an energy-saving themed documentary
• Create energy challenge conservation contests within departments
• Conduct a workshop to create awareness on sustainability within the office/home environment and show its effectiveness towards costs and the environment
• Promote the use of setting the A/C to 24 degrees or higher to save energy and costs

As an individual:

Being energy efficient can make a big difference to the cost of your energy bill. It doesn’t always need a big investment in time or money to make sure you’re using less energy and saving more. These are our top tips to help you save:

1. Switch off or unplug any chargers or appliances you don’t need. If they have a standby-by light, a display or are hot to the touch they’ll be using energy just by being plugged in.
2. Check the energy label to make sure you’re buying an efficient product. Buying an energy efficient fridge and freezer could make a difference compared to an inefficient model. Size is an important factor so decide how big your appliance needs to be and then compare the efficiency.
3. Switch to LED. You can now get LED spotlights that are bright enough to replace halogens, as well as regular energy saving bulbs (‘compact fluorescent lamps’ or CFLs). They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and fittings.
4. Water saving aerators. If you’re not replacing taps or shower units, you can still save water by fitting aerators to taps and showers.
5. Use solar power to turn Dubai greener. With the installation of solar panels, you can now reduce your bill, lower carbon footprint and contribute to a greener tomorrow, today.