Thousands sign up with the initiative 'Hafez' to champion energy and water efficiency measures.
In the heart of the Gulf, Kuwait is taking significant strides towards a greener future with the implementation of the 'Hafez' program. This initiative, launched in 2021, is aimed at promoting energy and water conservation, a cause that is increasingly vital for the preservation of the country's natural resources.
Saud Al-Ajmi, the Director of the Automated Center Department and Head of the 'Hafez' Program Team, is leading the charge. The primary objective of the 'Hafez' program is to encourage and support the conservation of electricity and water in Kuwait, achieved through measures that reduce consumption and waste.
The program has seen encouraging results. During its first operational year, 947 citizens joined the 'Hafez' program. Among them, 513 successfully reduced their electricity and water consumption. However, no new information about the number of participants who settled their outstanding dues or the amount of savings achieved has been provided.
Participants in the 'Hafez' program stand to benefit in several ways. Firstly, they can expect significant savings on their electricity and water bills through discounted rates. Secondly, by reducing consumption, participants contribute to a decrease in the strain on Kuwait's natural resources and infrastructure. Lastly, the program motivates individuals to adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives.
The program offers cashback-style incentives for citizens living in private housing, with amounts credited directly to consumers' billing accounts within the customer services system. This provides a tangible reward for conservation efforts. Ministry supervisors also receive discounts on their electricity and water bills.
The 'Hafez' program, authorised by Law No. 20 of 2016 concerning tariffs, specifically Article 5, has been endorsed by the Fatwa and Legislation Authority and the Ministry of Finance. The program's structure and objectives could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other countries aiming to enhance energy and water conservation.
As of July 22, 8,461 customers have registered in the 'Hafez' program for electricity and water conservation. The participants who succeeded in reducing their consumption settled outstanding dues totaling 266,000 dinars. However, no new information about incentives paid to successful participants has been provided.
Al-Ajmi emphasized the need for continued internal efforts to raise awareness about the 'Hafez' program. The program, often referred to as the 'green triangle' due to its triple benefit of helping the state redirect savings from subsidies towards development projects, reducing environmental pollution, and rewarding citizens who adopt sustainable consumption habits, continues to be a beacon of hope for a greener future in Kuwait.
Science and technology play crucial roles in the successful implementation and improvement of the 'Hafez' program, an environmental-science initiative aimed at conserving energy and water resources in Kuwait. The program offers cashback-style incentives for citizens and enjoys the support of advanced customer service systems, which directly credit conservation savings to consumers' billing accounts. By utilizing these tools, the 'Hafez' program not only encourages sustainable practices among its participants but also provides valuable data for scientific research on energy and water efficiency, furthering the cause of environmental conservation in the region.
