University’s ‘Green Club’ assists in dissemination of water & energy saving techniques

October 03, 2010

The ‘Green Club’ of ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality value-based education, recently organized its own ‘Energy Saving Campaign’ in support of the ‘Heroes of the UAE’ programme being undertaken by the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) and in partnership with the Environmental Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD).

Founded in 2008, the Green Club is a student-run organization which encourages more student interest and involvement in environmental protection. Its members held separate sessions at the university’s Male and Female Campuses to inform faculty and students on the methods and strategies used to save water and electricity. They asked participants to monitor and optimize their energy usage and also handed out energy saving bulbs to the audiences.

“We always encourage our students to be involved in initiatives that promote sustainable development in Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general. We are particularly supportive of the leadership of the Green Club in this regard. In just a short time this organization has encouraged a lot of people to make a difference for the environment. ALHOSN stands by the admirable commitment of our students to pursuing a better, safer and healthier world,” said Dr. Adnan Husnein, Assistant Professor & Chair of the Urban Planning Department, Advisor of the Green Club, ALHOSN University.

The ALHOSN Green Club’s previous eco-initiatives include an inter-collegiate public speaking competition, an eco-kayaking trip, and a sponsored lecture on ‘Green Entrepreneurship,’ among others.  It also organizes the annual campus ‘Earth Week’ in celebration of international ‘Earth Day’ as is currently preparing for its regular can collection and recycling programmes.

‘Heroes of the UAE’ is a national campaign encouraging UAE citizens to reduce their energy and water consumption in order to lower the country’s ecological footprint, address dwindling energy supplies, and prevent destructive climate change. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Energy, and the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi. The campaign is being implemented in three phases in a two-year span to encourage action from all levels of society.

Founded in 2005, ALHOSN University is open to students of all nationalities. It offers 11 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Business, and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

As the concerns about the global warming and climate changes affect all of us around the globe, the UAE has established its own unique approach to encourage public awareness and resource conservation. On February 17, 2009, The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched a campaign centered on the websitewww.heroesoftheuae.ae.

The aim of this campaign is for everyone around the UAE to take action in being energy efficient and to raise awareness of the shortages of energy resources. The campaigns website contains a forum for the public to show their support for saving energy. Despite the many serious environmental problems lingering in the world, this website points out available and successful solutions adopted by everyday people.

The website features many graphics and animated images that explain the energy and environmental situation in a very simple manner. Cool features also include a list of energy saving tips and a calculator that can tell how households can save on their consumption. Other sections of the website show “green” case studies, some facts about the main issues in UAE, and competitions and quizzes for schools children.

This campaign really is a thoughtful gesture from the UAE for the sake of saving our planet. As they say, everyone should act now because anyone can be a hero.