Amman-- The Sustainable Urbanization and Resource Efficiency in Greater Amman Municipality (SURE) Project kicked-off the first phase of its ambitious intervention plan to improve energy efficiency in Amman. The project is replacing over 1,100 old halogen lamps used in 56 public parks and district buildings in GAM with energy-saving LED lighting fixtures and installing Smart Lighting Control System (SLCS) that are expected to reduce electricity consumption by 50 to 75 per cent.

The interventions, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is part of a bigger plan that establishes a systematic approach for the Greater Amman Municipality to implement benchmarked, standardized tools and methodologies for measuring and reporting climate-resilient, resource-efficient urban development city. The project, funded by GEF and carried out in partnership with GAM, works to reduce CO2 emissions in the city of Amman by addressing Energy Efficiency in the building sector and through LED lighting interventions.

UNDP Resident Representative Sara Ferrer Olivella said “This project comes as a continuation to UNDP’s efforts to take climate mitigation measures on the ground and in line with the its global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions as committed by the Paris Agreement. It is also one way to address the energy challenge that Jordan is striving to overcome.”

‘’A rapid increase in economic activity, population growth and successive influxes of refugees over the last decade have imposed huge stresses on Jordan’s urban areas and fragile water and energy resources. We partner with GAM to provide high quality municipal services of excellence addressing the environmental, health, organizational and infrastructure dimensions while maintaining the identity of the City of Amman’’ she added.

She added “Renovating these spaces with LED-powered lighting systems will make them more inviting and less energy consuming. With such innovative public space improvements, Jordan can create urban outdoor spaces that boost tourism and economic development, while saving energy and reducing environmental impact”.

The replacement of old-fashioned light bulbs with LED lighting alternatives plays a big role in combatting the impacts of increased CO₂ globally and is essential to decrease Jordan’s CO2 footprint and reduce the energy bill. Jordan is committed to reducing its green house gas emissions (GHG) by 14 per cent by 2030.

The SURE efforts come as apart of UNDP-GEF project designed to promote low-carbon buildings in Greater Amman Municipality, and eventually in other municipalities and cities in Jordan, through the application of Building Energy Codes, and in particular the Thermal Insulation Code for new buildings and retrofit guidelines for existing buildings. The project will directly support the implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2016, and the National Green Growth Plan 2016