April 2021

Leading British curriculum school, Brighton College Dubai, has pledged to make numerous sustainable changes to its Al Barsha South campus after one of its Year 6 pupils pitched an energy-saving idea to the KHDA as part of his Junior Duke Award Sustainability Challenge.

 A project for the internationally recognised Junior Duke Award Scheme, 11-year-old Max presented his idea of replacing all non-LED lighting in Dubai’s private schools with LED bulbs to Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) over Zoom, to see if the department were already working on a similar project or would consider supporting his mission.

As a result of his project, Brighton College Dubai will now change to using more energy-efficient lightbulbs. It has also installed sun-controlling window film to the school’s windows to reduce solar heating inside the building, aiming to reduce the school’s carbon emissions by 64,000 kg each year.

Brighton College Dubai Pupil, Max said: “I am very grateful that I got to speak to the KHDA about this project and that my school has supported me. I hope to encourage my generation to be more aware of sustainability for our futures and champion a sustainability club when CCAs resume.”

Head Master at Brighton College Dubai, Simon Crane, commented: “Max is very passionate about raising awareness about sustainability within his age group, and it was brilliant seeing him lead this project which he cares very much about. We have supported him every step of the way and have already made changes around the school and even in our own houses!”

After presenting his project to senior members of the KHDA and a representative from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Max will now lead his fellow pupils and represent Brighton College Dubai in DEWA’s Conservation Award later this year, a programme that encourages awareness of sustainability amongst students in the UAE. The KHDA has also offered to support Max as he works on his LED lightbulb initiative and will keep in touch with him to see how his project progresses. The school’s operator, Bloom Education, is also looking to implement these sustainable switches across all of its UAE based schools, as well as fitting LED lighting with motion sensors and building a management system to monitor, programme and time schedule equipment use. Additional plans include installing solar panels to utilise the use of renewable energy, as well as recycling water used for air-conditioning for landscaping irrigation.