The Permanent Green IT Strategy Committee at the Ministry of Interior has called for adopting the ‘Star Energy’ standard for optimizing efficiency of energy consumption.
The MoI made a presentation yesterday “Thursday” on Green IT Strategies being employed as a model for the ministry’s institutional environmental modus operandi. The event came within the group of seminars slated for the 15th day of the 31st International Arab Children Congress in Abu Dhabi, being held under the auspices of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bin Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s and Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). The Congress is due to conclude its agenda tomorrow “Saturday”.
In a work paper, Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Mohammed Al Shammari, Director of the MoI’s Child Protection Center and member of the higher organizing committee organizing the Congress, highlighted the importance of benefiting from the international ‘Star Energy’ standard to enhance energy efficiency of power-consuming products. ‘Star Energy’ is a US-backed initiative that has been endorsed by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union.
The standard covers a range of products including computers, terminal and kitchen equipment, buildings, among others. ‘Star Energy’-labeled products consume on average between 20 and 30 percent less power than ceilings set by Federal specifications. He also welcomed other standards used by several European countries like the TCO certification which makes it easy to choose IT equipment that is designed for the benefit of both the user and the environment (adopted by the Swedish Federation of Professional Employees in lieu of ‘Energy Star’).
The purpose of green programs sponsored by the Environment Agency, said Al Shammari, is to serve as a nexus for a string of volunteer programs concocted to validate the possibility of increasing profits by cutting greenhouse gases, and facilitating the implementation of further measures to curb the level of greenhouse emissions.
He pointed to the MoI’s efforts in the field of sustainable development and energy conservation, and to the full support of the ministry and all its senior leadership dedicated to the ‘Earth Hour’ initiative, which aims to promote awareness to the greenhouse phenomenon; counter climate change, optimize electricity and power consumption, in order to save energy, conserve natural resources, consecrate the culture of rationalized consumption and curbing squandering of energy, all en route to achieving sustainable development.
“The initiative was carried out by the MoI in collaboration with the emirates Wildlife Society, the International Fund for Environmental Conversation, Zibyaniya Private School of the FDF and the Environment Friends Society,” clarified Al Shammari. Since the year 2009, the MoI has been committed to shutting down all its lighting systems and electrical equipment in its buildings and installations and senior leadership and general directorate premises, and participation in the annual event has continued ever since, he continued.
Al Shammari underscored the need for cooperation amongst public and private foundations to reduce the volume of harmful emissions and to address sustainability issues, pointing out that the Green IT Strategy is capable of major contributions in this arena, thereby aiding foundations and corporations in their endeavors to achieve their objectives pertinent to environmental responsibility and sustainability.
According to the Lt Colonel, the MoI incessantly strives to assume a leading role and present an