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Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Nearly one year after launching an extensive solar panel project, Transguard has announced that it has reached net-zero emissions in one of its accommodations. A combination of energy-saving initiatives and solar panels in one accommodation in particular has generated an impressive 139,000 kWh of energy while consuming only 113,000 kWh, with the excess energy (26,000 kWh) being fed back to DEWA’s power grid.

Relying on a 452 kWp rooftop solar panel plant, Transguard’s net-zero accommodation is just one of the residential facilities of the business solutions provider that is equipped with the energy storing modules: The full project extends across more than 1,200 highly efficient solar panels that were installed in April 2020 across multiple accommodations. Combined, these panels produce 83% of Transguard’s total energy requirements for staff housing and have produced nearly 600,000 kWh over the last 10 months with the result of a carbon offset of 425 metric tons.

“To put this in perspective, the reduction in our carbon footprint is equivalent to just over 1 million miles driven by the average passenger vehicle,” explains Greg Ward, Managing Director, Transguard Group. “This is an exciting development that actively showcases Transguard’s proactive commitment to sustainability.”

This milestone is firmly in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and is aimed at providing clean energy to 25% of the emirate’s power grid by 2030, with the target increasing to 75% clean energy by 2050.

Additional on-going initiatives include an extensive HVAC retrofit project and 154 metric-ton reduction in Transguard’s carbon emissions as a result of replacing 2,000 fluorescent bulbs with LED lights. In addition, a water efficiency programme launched in 2019 has reduced the consumption of water in Transguard accommodations by 14% each year since its inception.

“Sustainability is a key pillar in everything we do,” Ward concludes. “We are committed to the continual exploration of new areas where we can make a ‘green difference’ for our employees, the country and the world.”