Abu Dhabi hotels produced a combined energy saving of 8,601 kw/h, a 27 per cent reduction in total energy consumption by switching off their lights during the March 27 Earth Hour global conservation exercise.

A statement said that the one-hour switching off and light dimming exercise also reduced hotel carbon emissions by 5,246 kg.

The hotels registered with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority to support the World Wide Fund for Nature’s third global Earth Hour, joining people and organisations across different time zones.

“This exercise had great synergy with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s tourism sector environment, health and safety management system (EHSMS) which aims to improve the environmental performance of hotels and which laid down a 10 per cent energy reduction target for the emirate’s hotels for 2010,” said ADTA’s director tourism standards Nasser Al Reyami.

Abu Dhabi’s hotels promoted Earth Hour to their guests, encouraging them to take part, with many organising special candle-lit receptions for guests during Earth Hour.

Hotel’s main energy saving initiatives were turning off exterior lights, neon signs and garden and landscape lighting, dimming restaurant lights and opting for candlelight settings, reducing lobby areas and office lighting, and switching off air conditioning in vacant rooms.