Taqeef Sustainability Handbook 2023

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BOOKMARK

INSIDE

A guide to

conscious living.

Table

of contents

A message from

the CEO

13

Turn trash

into treasure

6-7

Six steps to

conscious

cooling at home

taqeef.com

14-15

20-21

Small changes,

big impact

On our cover

Abdulla Lutfi is a young,

dynamic, established Emirati

artist, on the autism

spectrum. Abdulla’s passion

for art stems from his amazing

attention to detail, his black

and white view of the world,

and his sharp sense of humor.

12

Green career

pathways

Activity pages

taqeef.com

Dear readers,

It is with great excitement that we

at Taqeef present the Sustainability

Handbook for Families, an initiative

that inspires us to sow the seeds for a

sustainable future - both figuratively

and literally. The handbook coincides

with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability

as the country works towards a more

sustainable and thriving UAE.

Our cover page is designed by

celebrated Emirati talent, Abdulla Lutfi.

As an artist on the autism spectrum,

Abdulla sees and interprets the world

in a unique, non-conventional way.

He inspires us to change the way we

interact with our environment and to

consider things in a new light. Which is

in fact the purpose of this handbook.

As the world heats up, so does our

energy and air conditioner use, and

that means we’re contributing to a

problem that’s self-perpetuating. On

a global scale, this issue might seem

overwhelming, but if we look closer

to home and examine our own habits,

we’ll see that by thinking a little

differently we too can make an impact,

one degree at a time.

In this handbook you’ll find practical

ideas on how to lower your energy

consumption, along with encouraging

and fun ways to integrate more

sustainable practices in the way you

live, work and play.

A message

from the CEO

We hope it serves as a useful tool for

adopting greener, cleaner habits.

For the past 50 years, we at Taqeef

have been cooling some of the region’s

most iconic spaces and places. We

know, that in a desert climate like ours,

comfort is king. But we also know that

with commitment we can strive to cool

without compromise, and you can too.

Throughout the UAE and the world,

environmental and climate awareness

is playing an increasingly important

role. The decisions we make today

impact our children, our communities,

and our planet. So, as we stride into the

future, let’s ensure the footprints we

leave are small ones; for today’s

generation and the next.

With my best wishes,

Tariq Al Ghussein

CEO

Taqeef

Show your AC some love

Simply keeping your air conditioner

clean and serviced makes it work more

efficiently, will improve your indoor air

quality, and lower your bills. You can dust the vents

and clean your filter yourself once a month and aim

to get your units serviced professionally at least

twice a year.

The magic number

A 24 degrees celsius set-point is the magic

number. The best way to cut air

conditioning costs, and reduce energy, is

to set the thermostat to 24° which is the optimal

temperature for the body. Even turning the

thermostat up by one degree can save up to six

percent of your electricity consumption.

Living in the UAE means living with AC. In 40-degree heat, cooling equates to comfort,

but if we’re mindful about our AC use we can minimize the energy impact we have on

the environment (and save some money on bills too!). Here’s how:

Home comforts

If you’re moving into a new apartment or

villa, find out about the AC first. Old

systems can cost a lot to run and repair

so it’s worth considering this. It’s also important to

understand how to get the best from the cooling

system – many have energy saving features built in

(WiFi control/eco-cool etc.) so ask for the AC

manual so you can figure out how to use them! And

if you don’t have a programmable thermostat, think

about putting one in – it’s a small upgrade that can

lead to big savings.

Six steps to conscious

cooling at home

Buy smart

If you’re installing a new AC, shop around

for one with energy-saving features – look

for smart or WiFi controls, inverter

technology and high EER ratings and you’ll be on the

right track for preserving money and the planet!

Waste not, want not

When not needed, turn your AC off.

Sounds obvious, but a survey conducted

by Taqeef showed that ²/3 of UAE

residents leave their AC on when they go to work or

even when they go on holiday. That’s a lot of

wastage. Instead, use the features on your AC to

reduce your energy outputs; set your AC timer, use

a WiFi enabled smart system or thermostat or if you

don’t have these features, just set the temperature

to a higher set point while you’re away. This will

ensure you don’t come home to a hot-house, but

you won’t have over-cooled the space either.

Shut the front door

This might be obvious – but keep

exterior doors and windows closed – this

will regulate the indoor temperature and

make sure your AC isn’t working harder than it

needs to.

In the UAE, we’re often guilty of over-cooling. So, her

to help you get your thermostat settings right

taqeef.com

er-cooling. So, here’s a temperature guide

t settings right, whatever you’re doing.

10

Why is regular AC

servicing important?

AC maintenance - the must-do’s.

Quarterly indoor

filter clean

Half-year outdoor

unit clean

Annual evaporator

coil cleaning

Annual deep clean

& sanitation on

indoor units

Check piping &

ductwork for blockages

and leaks

Your air conditioner works really hard to battle the UAE’s scorching summer

heat and sweltering humidity. But you probably don’t spend much time thinking

about servicing it — until there’s a problem.

Just like oil changes for your car, AC maintenance isn’t something that’s

optional or extra. Your air conditioner needs care and attention from a

professional at least twice a year.

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