Abu Dhabi Family Engages Community and Receives International Recognition for Energy Saving Efforts
Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 9th, 2011: National Geographic Al Arabiya magazine has praised the energy saving success of one local Emirati family, as their participation in the global National Geographic 360º Energy Diet challenge drew to a close this month.
The family's outstanding commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and teaching others the environmental lessons learned has earned them special recognition from the international National Geographic Society, while also securing them one of the highest total energy savings of all the participating families in the challenge.
Mohamed Al Sayed Ali Al Nowais from Abu Dhabi, along with his wife Budour and their three children, were chosen in January by National Geographic Al Arabiya magazine to embark on the three-month-long 360º Energy Diet, along with eight other families from around the world. Aided by expert coaches, the family completed a series of lifestyle changing tasks, aimed at reducing their carbon footprint and teaching them long-term ways to reduce their impact on the environment.
The challenge opened the family's eyes to the unsustainable lifestyle that many people in the UAE lead, and over the course of 12 weeks they worked to significantly reduce their household energy consumption. The family was also active in sharing the energy saving principles learned during the diet with their extended family, local schools and the wider community, in order to teach other UAE residents about living more sustainably.
At the conclusion of the Energy Diet this month, Christina Nunez, Senior Producer of Energy Content for National Geographic, commented on the Al Nowais family's achievements, "While every person taking part in the Energy Diet brought a unique perspective and talent, the Al Nowais family's outstanding efforts made them one of the highest performers in the challenge. Of all the families who participated, the Al Nowais family also had the greatest impact in terms of sharing the energy-saving message with their community."
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Editor in Chief of National Geographic Al Arabiya magazine, who coordinated the involvement of the Al Nowais family in the 360º Energy Diet challenge, also commented on the example the family has set for this region: "The family embraced every detail of the Energy Diet challenge - they got their whole family involved and together they actively spoke at local schools, shared the energy saving message through the media, and even appeared on stage at the recent Earth Hour event in Abu Dhabi to talk about their experience.
"The family did all of these additional things out of their own passion for the Energy Diet challenge, as they understood that it wasn't going to be enough to just make these changes in their own life. They recognized that they needed to share the lessons learned with their community in order for all of us to make noticeable changes to reduce our impact on the environment and lead a more sustainable existence," Al Hammadi added.
Upon the conclusion of the Energy Diet, mother Budour Al Nowais explains that the family has no intention of stopping their eco-friendly commitment now:
"I am so proud of my family and how far we have come from the beginning of the Energy Diet challenge- it is amazing how much we have learned and how we have changed for the better. However, what we have achieved is just a small drop in a big ocean and there is so much more we all can do. Once you see the difference you can make, you realize that this three month challenge is really about making life-long changes. The UAE has one of the highest carbon footprints in the world, and today we all have a responsibility to live and think green, and to be role models for the next generation. We must take action now in order to build a more sustainable future."
The Al Nowais family reduced their carbon footprint over the course of the 360º Energy Diet by making noticeable changes in their lifestyle, such as using alternate means of transportation instead of driving, swapping conventional foods for local and organic foods, recycling all glass, aluminum and paper, giving up bottled water, and cutting their use of disposable items.
You can read more about the Al Nowais family's experience and their energy saving improvements on the 360º Energy Diet challenge blog http://360energydiet.com/.
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Abu Dhabi Media is a leading media organization in the Middle East, with businesses in free and pay television, radio, publishing, digital media, games, feature films, music, digital signage, outside broadcast/production, and printing. The company manages over 20 market-leading brands such as the TV channels Abu Dhabi Al Oula, and Abu Dhabi Riyadiya/AD Sports, Emarat FM, and Star FM radio stations, Al Ittihad and The National newspapers, Majid and Zahrat Al Khaleej magazines, the websites, anazahra.com and admcsport.com, Karkadann Games, Imagenation Abu Dhabi, LIVE, and United Printing Press. Abu Dhabi Media partners with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment on VEVO, the world's leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform, and with National Geographic on National Geographic Abu Dhabi, the Arabic language television channel, and National Geographic Al Arabiya magazine. Abu Dhabi Media is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with offices in Beirut, Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah. www.admedia.ae
For more information, please contact:Omar Abed Rabbo
Senior Manager, Communications - Abu Dhabi Media
Mob +971 50 5842741
omar.abedrabbo@admedia.ae
Georgia Thompson
Senior PR Executive, Communications - Abu Dhabi Media
Mob +971 50 641 2955
georgia.thompson@admedia.ae
© Press Release 2011
