The Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) said power consumption in Dubai fell by 146,000 kWh during 'Earth Hour 2009,' which took place on Saturday.

The reduction in electricity was 46 per cent up on 2008 and represented an 88,000 kg drop in CO2 gas emissions.

Thousands of Dubai residents, businesses and organisations switched off unnecessary lighting and electrical appliances, as they joined the global one-hour power down, which had the official support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and chairman of The Executive Council, and the Dubai Government.

Globally, more than one billion people participated in the climate change initiative. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa led the official public display of support for Earth Hour, held at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Government officials and members of the public placed more than 5,000 lit lanterns on Arabic and English cut outs of the words Earth Hour to mark the occasion.

The lanterns were handed out, free of charge, by Dewa staff along with Earth Hour T Shirts and Earth Hour balloons. Dewa also organized a children’s activity area that focused on energy conservation.

Al Tayer said the cut in electricity of 146,000 kWh showed what could be done when people acted collectively to save energy. 'Now, we hope everyone will build on Earth Hour and save energy every hour of every day,' he pointed out.

'It is vital that people work individually and collectively to reduce energy consumption to protect our Earth,' he noted.

In addition to Dewa, Earth Hour in Dubai was supported by Dubai Holding; the Roads and Transport Authority; the Dubai International Financial Center; du; the Federal Electricity and Water Authority; Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Hilton Hotels Middle East and Africa; Dubai Group; Tatweer; Leo Burnett; the Omnicom Media Group; Standard Chartered Bank; Nakheel; Tecom Investments; Emaar; Dubai Properties Group; Al Khaleej Centre; Jumeirah Group, Dubai International Airport, Jumeirah Centre, Arabian Center and Lamcy Plaza.

Among the Dubai landmark buildings whose exteriors were plunged into darkness, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm during Earth Hour, were the Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, DIFC’s The Gate, Emirates Towers and the World Trade Centre.

Billed, by the WWF, as a vote for the Earth over climate change, Earth Hour embraced more than 4,000 cities and towns across the globe.

In addition to Dubai, lights were switched off in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujeirah in the UAE, as well as all the world’s major cities, including Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Mumbai, Delhi, Cape Town, Athens, Paris, Berlin, London, New York, Toronto, San Francisco, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Honolulu.-TradeArabia News Service