......Ocean’s Edge on Krating Bay is well on track to be finished by its projected completion date of this June. As such, it is fast realising the vision of its developers, Saraan Lifestyle, to produce the finest condominium on the Eastern Seaboard.
This ideal has already been acknowledged internationally, specifically by the accolades that the project has already won from the prestigious UK property magazine, Homes Overseas, including the Gold Award for Best Apartment in Thailand; an award in celebration of excellence.
However, significant though this award may be in terms of purveying quality of lifestyle, it is not the subject of this article. Rather, it is for Ocean’s Edge’s ‘Green Exemplarship’, as the prime exponent of eco-sensitivity as regards building standards and fixtures and fittings on the Eastern Seaboard that REm wishes to draw readers’ attentions to.
To quote the sales literature, referring to environmental issues, “the developers of Ocean’s Edge Condominium project have, from the outset and regardless of cost, strived to include the latest technology and systems in order to reduce the negative impact a concentration of living units is sure to have on the environment.”
Oh, that all developers would strive to emulate the excellent example set by Ocean’s Edge, rather than merely paying lip services to green issues, as is so often the case, if they even bother at all about considerations beyond maximising square metreage per baht. This environmental sensitivity, responsibility to future generations and concern for the planet is not a matter of secondary, but crucial importance. It should be the primary consideration of any developer’s budget, not a factor to be considered as an afterthought, and relegated to the bottom of the developer’s priority list.
Wim Scheggetman, Saraan Lifestyle’s joint MD, with responsibility for the construction of the project, insisted on green features being incorporated in Ocean’s Edge from the outset.
He has a finely developed eco-sensitivity, and was intent on reducing the ‘carbon footprint’ of the buildings, to minimize their CO2 emissions. Accordingly, he arranged for the following green features to be fundamental to the project:
l water purification and recycling
l energy-efficient electrical systems
l solar heating
l thermal insulation
l environmentally-friendly construction materials
l environmentally-friendly plants and trees
l environmentally-friendly separated rubbish bins with daily collection.
Water features
Water supply has long been a bugbear of Pattaya residents, especially with its burgeoning development rapidly exhausting existing supplies.
To counteract the prospect of an uncertain water supply, solely dependent on the capacities of the local authority, Ocean’s Edge has drilled two 75m wells to ensure a consistent water supply to its residents, with 60m3 underground storage tanks, guaranteeing at least three-day supply. This will provide fresh, potable water, which has been purified in such a way as to remove harmful bacteria, while retaining all the essential vital nutrients, unlike other water purification systems.
Furthermore, by piping in the fresh water to each apartment, environmentally hazardous plastic water containers will be eliminated. Showers are also programmable to custom settings.
In addition, so called ‘black’ water from toilets and ‘grey’ water from kitchen usage, baths and showers will be collected, treated and then recycled to irrigate and water the foliage of the project.
Electrical systems
To minimise the inefficient use of electricity, the project’s Siemens Smart Living System, coupled with smart energy-saving programmes incorporating the latest technology and designs, provides a substantial reduction in electricity consumption.
In addition, there is an Italian Smart Home Living System by VDA, an interactive energy-efficient timing and control system. This enables remote control of appliances via mobile phones, and pre-programming to ensure electrical appliances are only used when necessary; examples of which are the motion-sensor operated nightlight in the bathroom and motion-detector operated light in the entry hallway and living room. The air-conditioning is provided by one of Germany’s most modern and energy-efficient companies, Daikin, using the latest technology, which delivers cool air only where and when required.
Lower energy bills are also facilitated by the use of low-wattage, long-life lighting and ultra-sensitive, high-speed heating and cooling cooking hobs.
Space-saving is also achieved, using an ingenious combo unit, incorporating electric hob, hood, dishwasher, washer, dryer, fridge, freezer and microwave oven.
Heating
Hot water is provided by a triple ‘green’ system. Primarily, the Daikin air-conditioning units incorporate a 300 litre, heat-recovery system whereby, rather than waste the hot exhaust emissions, as is so frequently the case, this system uses the heat-recovery facility to heat the water.
Secondarily, solar collectors are also used to heat the water.
Finally, an ultra-efficient Quantum Titan energy heat pump, used as backup to the other two systems, will provide constant 60°C hot water at a fraction of the cost of normal heating units.
Insulation
To maintain the all important thermal envelope, a crucial feature of energy-efficiency, rooftop insulation is used in conjunction with superblock, (an aerated, lightweight building block) to reduce heat absorption and UPVC triple-layered, double-glazed glass, which has been treated to minimise interior heat gain.
This complete system ensures temperatures remain ambient within the apartment, while minimising two-way transfer of heat and cold, thus radically reducing the strain on the air-conditioning system.
Materials
Rather than using large quantities of wood, which is costly both in terms of money and environmental impact, a long-life, German composite LVL wood, made of bonded layers of veneer wood and foam is used wherever possible. A revolutionary, smooth acrylic material called Parapan is also used wherever possible as in sinks, cabinet doors and panels and other kitchen fittings.
Glass windows have also been used to provide maximum natural light rather than relying on electric lights. The use of these alternative materials, including superblock, also reduces the necessity of using too much concrete, the manufacture of which is a major contributor to CO2 emissions.
Foliage
To reduce the impact on the groundwater supply, environmentally-friendly plants and trees have been used, supplied by Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, which have a low-water usage signature, some even being able to thrive on brackish water.
Ocean’s Edge, as can be seen from the foregoing description, is a showcase of energy-efficiency and the optimal use of eco-friendly materials in an energy-controlled environment.
As such, it admirably demonstrates that a quality lifestyle doesn’t have to be achieved at the expense of the environment, nor does a quality lifestyle have to be sacrificed by going green.
It will remain a splendid permanent reminder, by its stylishly elegant facade, its minimal environmental footprint and its optimal use of eco-friendly features that this is the way of the future and, as such, sets the perfect example for developers to follow.
However, this is only half of the story. Wim Scheggetman is also MD of TGS (Technology Green Solutions). Here, he has not only achieved a foothold in the manufacture of eco-friendly products, but has also demonstrated a deep cultural sensitivity by setting up a factory in Khon Kaen, which gives employment to Thai workers, under German management, thus ensuring quality control.
It is a factory whose workers operate on a seasonal shift system basis. The implications of this are that they don’t have to journey vast distances in search of work, with the inevitably negative impact upon their families, but can stay at home, and as many of their family members as possible are also given work.
While part of the workforce leaves the factory at the crucial rice planting and harvesting times, other family members come from their homes and take the absentees’ places in the factory to maintain production continuity.
This double-shift system also ensures the families are considerably better off financially. Not only that, but by allowing the workers to stay at home, the workers remain loyal and delinquency is minimised because the workers remain under the constraints and peer pressure of their family heritage and community.
By doing this
TGS has managed to reorient its Thai workers from being reactive to being proactive, and thus achieves the best of both worlds.
The green products made or supplied by TGS include solar collectors, heat-pump systems, air-conditioner heat recovery systems, infra-red furniture, infra-red heating and the ornamental solar pumps, solar fountains and solar lighting.
The latter are very attractive garden features which will considerably enhance the look of your garden at a minimal cost and, thereafter, run for free. Wim demonstrated how it is easily possible to make as much as a phenomenal 95 per cent saving on the average household electricity bill!
And what’s more, to significantly minimise one’s carbon footprint by reducing the average household’s CO2 emissions by as much as two tonnes per annum.
TGS under Wim’s aegis has already made a considerable impact on the hospitality industry, which is notoriously inefficient in terms of water usage and energy-efficiency. So far, he’s been working in Esarn, Laos and the Eastern Seaboard.
One large hotel in this vicinity was shown how it could make cost savings of between Bt1-3 million
per annum.
However, a fuller account of TGS and its work must wait until next issue to do it justice. Ω
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