Ascott Jakarta is First BCA Green Mark Certified Serviced Residence in Indonesia

May 30, 2013 - PRLog -- Jakarta, Indonesia, 17 May 2013 – Singapore-based The Ascott Limited’s (Ascott) premier Ascott Jakarta serviced residence has been awarded the Green Mark Certification (provisional) by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA).

The BCA Green Mark evaluates a building's sustainability based on criteria such as energy and water efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environmental quality and other green and innovative features that contribute to better building performance. Ascott Jakarta is the first serviced residence in Indonesia to be BCA Green Mark certified.

Mr Kenneth Rogers, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for Indonesia and Australia, said: “Ascott is committed to environmental sustainability and strives to become the world’s leading green serviced residence company. As part of our global ‘Go Green @ Ascott’ sustainability drive, we are incorporating green elements into all new properties to be built or renovated. This includes Ascott Jakarta which is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar phased refurbishment. When completed in the fourth quarter of this year, the 198-unit serviced residence will cater to eco-conscious expatriates and business travellers, offering green living in an exclusive and elegant home away from home.”

Several green features have been incorporated at Ascott Jakarta to create a sustainable residence that is both comfortable and environment-friendly. These include the use of energy-efficient products such as LED lights with high frequency ballasts and air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow system, which significantly reduce the property’s energy consumption. Ascott Jakarta also shuts down half its lifts and reduces the usage of air conditioners along its corridors daily from midnight to 5am when there is lesser human traffic to conserve energy.

To ensure good indoor air quality, low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints are used in the property. Water-saving fittings such as taps and dual flush toilet cisterns are installed in apartment toilets to cut down water consumption, while recycling bins are prominently placed in the common areas to encourage staff and residents to recycle plastic, metal drink cans and paper. Ascott Jakarta also adopts the use of biodegradable laundry bags to reduce solid waste.

An Ascott Earth Day is held every first Friday of the month at Ascott Jakarta. On this day, all non-essential lightings as well as the fountain pump in the property are turned off for extended hours. Staff and residents are encouraged to dress down while the air-conditioning temperature in the property is increased to conserve energy.

Other green initiatives implemented include offering long-stay residents the option to play a part by reducing the frequency of housekeeping, and providing residents with reusable shopping bags that reduce the use of disposable grocery bags. Furthermore, at Ascott Jakarta, its Cubbies Kids’ Club playroom features a wall mural with a green message, encouraging young residents to love and care for the environment.

Besides the BCA Green Mark Certification, Ascott Jakarta has achieved the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 international certifications for environmental management, and occupational health and safety management respectively.

Located in the heart of Jakarta’s business and shopping district, the Golden Triangle, Ascott Jakarta is ideal for executives on business trips or relocation. The serviced residence is close to the convention centre, various corporate offices, embassies, attractions and major shopping malls such as Plaza Indonesia Shopping Complex, Grand Indonesia Shopping Town and Jakarta City Centre Shopping Mall with a wide range of entertainment and dining options.

The serviced residence offers spacious apartments that range from studios to three-bedroom penthouses. Each apartment provides a fully-equipped kitchen, separate living and dining areas, home entertainment system, complimentary Internet access and other modern amenities. Larger apartments with two or more bedrooms also come with a maid's room. The extensive facilities at the serviced residence include a swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, fully-equipped gymnasium, aerobics studio and meeting rooms.

As the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in Indonesia, Ascott has over 2,200 apartment units across 10 properties in Jakarta and Surabaya. Besides Ascott Jakarta, Ascott operates Citadines Rasuna Jakarta, Somerset Berlian Jakarta, Somerset Grand Citra Jakarta, Somerset Surabaya Hotel & Serviced Residence and Countrywoods Residences in Jakarta. The company will open Ascott Kuningan Jakarta, Ascott Waterplace Surabaya and Somerset Kencana Jakarta in 2014 as well as Citadines Marvell Surabaya in 2015.

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be the world's largest international serviced residence owner-operator. It has more than 22,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region, as well as over 9,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 31,000 units in over 200 properties.

The company operates three brands – Ascott, Citadines and Somerset. Its portfolio spans over 70 cities across more than 20 countries, 16 of which are new cities in Ascott’s portfolio where its serviced residences are being developed.

Ascott, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. In 2006, it established the world's first Pan-Asian serviced residence real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust. Today, the company boasts a 29-year industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Ascott's achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment/Residence Operator’, TTG China Travel Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’, TTG Travel Awards 2012 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator’, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2012 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’ and ‘Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific’, and Business Traveller UK Awards 2012 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment Company’.