Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas

Name of property	Koh Jum Beach Villas
Person completing this form	Severine Bille
Position	Villa owner managment
Address of property	Koh Jum Beach Villa 320 Moo 3 T. Koh Sriboya Nuaklong, Krabi 81130
Country	Thailand
Phone number including country code and area code	+66 (0) 8444 22 856
Web site	Koh Jum Beach Villas
E-mail	info@kohjumbeachvillas.com
Type of property	Beach villas
Number of rooms or cottages	8
Maximum number of guests	42
Eco memberships
Eco ratings, certifications, awards	Eco Rating at Eco Tropical Resorts: 4.6 out of 5

• Do you have a written environmental or social sustainability policy?     YES

If yes, please attach.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?                  NO

If yes, please attach.

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max)

Koh Jum Beach Villas is located on 700 meters of beach front on the island of Koh Jum. The land totals 16 acres and is subdivided into a common area consisting of gardens, restaurant and lounge together with 13 beach front lots and 11 second row lots. Currently there are 8 completed villas.  Low density beach front lots average 2000 square meters in a botanical garden setting.  A growing international community of villa owners have been drawn to the project due to the low density, authentic Thai island life, superb villa construction and stunning gardens in a project that is sensitive to environmental and local community

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max)

Koh Jum Beach Villas is located on the island of Koh Jum, Krabi province in southern Thailand. In the high season (mid October through March) two ferries a day service Koh Jum and long tail boats provide year round boat taxi service from the village of Laem Kruat, 20 kilometers from Krabi town (population 344,000).
Koh Jum island has 1500 inhabitants located in three authentic Thai villages.
Fishing and rubber plantation make up the principal economy of the island. The
western side of the island faces the open Andaman Sea, extensive mangroves growth is found on the inland eastern side.

• Describe WHY you made the decision to develop an eco resort (100 word max)

Tsunami relief work in 2005 is what first brought the owners of Koh Jum Beach Villas to the island. As a result of strong friendships forged from the hardship of the tsunami, the owners returned in 2006 and purchased the property, they established the villa resort which today employs 35 locals. From the very beginning the idea was to develop this land using so and ecological principles. This was a continuation of the owners chosen lifestyle in the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver Island and the Pacific N.W USA. The attraction was not only the extensive tropical beach but also the authentic Thai lifestyle on the island that still invokes a timeless ambience, an interesting community of villa owners and visitors to Koh Jum. A strong commitment to the local community and preserving the local environment are values the villa owners share in common.

Introduction to the Butterfly Club’s Eco Rating

The Butterfly Club Eco Rating has five equally-weighted categories:

• Energy;
• Water;
• Recycling and waste;
• Land and nature conservation; and
• Community.

Each category has five levels, designated by one to five butterflies.  Through self assessment, resort operators completing this rating will determine their own levels within each category based on their responses to items listed below.

Two categories – energy and water – have similar rating systems with Levels 1 and 2 addressing conservation of existing resources, and Levels 3, 4 and 5 addressing creation of renewable energy or capturing water.

Level five in every category also requires written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record consumption; (2) test and apply additional conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific targets.   We require a copy of your policies if you achieve level 5 in any category.

Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas Energy

Levels 1 and 2 – conservation: Check all that apply:

_Y__  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners (not allowed in resort)
_Y__  use natural light during the day (villa designed with max windows for light)
_Y__  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment (no road on resort only pathways)
_Y__  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
_Y__  air dry clothes/linens
_Y__  wash dishes by hand
_Y__  use energy efficient appliances and electronics
_Y__  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
_Y__  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request ( linen change every 3rd  or 6th day, no tablecloths used)
_Y__  switch off lights when not used part of daily checklist
Other energy conservation activities? Please list:
Villa are built under existing trees using the principles of ecological design, (roof insulation and light weight super block walls) which make use of microclimates to keep the villas cool.

Level 1 = four or fewer energy conservation activities

Level 2 = five or more energy conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – renewable energy: Indicate proportion (%) of energy from each source:

_Y__  solar (10%)
___  wind
___  hydro
___  generator ( backup only)
_Y__  public utility  (90%)
Other energy sources? Please list:
Passive solar panels on the roofs of the villas provide hot water. Electricity arrived on Koh Jum during August 2009.

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?

Level 3 = renewable energy is employed and is less than 1/3 of all energy

Level 4 = renewable energy constitutes 1/3 – 2/3 of all energy

Level 5 = renewable energy constitutes 2/3 or more of all energy.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record energy consumption; (2) test and apply additional energy conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific energy targets.

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Energy Level 5 (required).

Your Energy Level (select 1 – 5) =   3

Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas Water

Levels 1 and 2 – conservation: Check all that apply:

_Y_  low flow faucets and showerheads
_Y_  low water use toilets
_Y_  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request ( linen change every 3rd day, no tablecloths used)
_Y__use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
_Y_  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap (  we are using natural ingredient to prepare home made cleaning product and natural soap)
_Y_  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes ( ionization process called “Caribbean clear”)
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.
Invested in a new low level water & energy efficient washing machine.

Level 1 = three or fewer water conservation activities

Level 2 = four or more water conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – capture and treat fresh water and manage waste water. Capture water: Indicate proportion (%) of water from each source:

___  spring
_Y__  river 1% ( lot of planting by the klong to minimise watering)
___  rain
_Y__  reuse gray 28% ( sand filtered & provide water for fruit tree)
_Y__  public utility  31% ( spring water from mountain, needs to be naturally treated)
Other water sources? Please list.
40%, four shallow wells on the property provide water used for landscaping & gardening
100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
_Y__  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List:   Carbon filter and magnesium
___  chemically.  List chemicals used:

Waste water management:
_Y__  septic tanks bioactive system, do not require organic waste removal
___  cesspools
___  other? List methods:

Level 3: Water is captured (from springs, rivers, rain or prior use) and constitutes less than 1/3 of water from all sources.  Water is treated chemically.  Water disposal does not minimize damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 4:  Captured water constitutes 1/3 to 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 5:  Captured water constitutes more than 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests.   In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record water consumption; (2) test and apply additional water conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific water targets.

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Water Level 5 (required).

Your Water Level (select 1 – 5): 5

Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

_Y_   use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items food to take away is prepare in stainless steel container to avoid plastic waste
_Y_   buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
Fresh food from local fisherman and market
_Y_   purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
_Y_   recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminum all separated and sent to mainland for recycling, glass bottle are send back for refill
_Y_   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment
No road on resort, only pathways
_Y_   zero waste in the kitchen organic matters are composted, the rest for chicken feed in village
__   serve local water, not bottled water   we use local glass bottle which are refilled, plastic bottles are not allowed
_Y_   cleaning products are biodegradable  we are using natural ingredient and preparing home made cleaning product and natural soap
_Y_   compost organic matter everything is composted, we have a non burning policy

Other methods to recycle waste? Please list.
Large organic matter such as coconut and branches from trees and beach clean up are mulched and composted to use in our botanical garden. We are removing rubbish from nearby resort to avoid burning. Beer and soft drinks are only sold in cans, so can easely be recycled.

Level 1 = four or fewer recycling activities

Level 2 = five recycling activities

Level 3 = six recycling activities

Level 4 = seven recycling activities

Level 5 = eight or more recycling activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record recycling and waste; (2) test and apply additional recycling and waste conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific recycling and waste targets.

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Recycling and Waste Level 5 (required).

Your Recycling and Waste Level (select 1 – 5): 5

Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

_Y_   minimize tree removal when building if needed tree are moved and re-planted
_Y_   use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
_Y_   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort Fruits & herb garden
_Y_   use biodegradable cleaning products  we are using natural ingredient to prepare home made cleaning product and natural soap
_Y_   minimize external illumination very low voltage to avoid light pollution
_Y_   take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects:
Landscape with  native trees and plants, to attract native wildlife such as birds, monitor lizard,… We have an extensive botanical garden with plant labels. Most importantly we have a no burning policy.

Level 1: one or two land and nature conservation activities

Level 2: three land and nature conservation activities

Level 3: four land and nature conservation activities

Level 4: five land and nature conservation activities

Level 5: six or more land and nature conservation activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record land and nature conservation activities; (2) test and apply additional land and nature conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific land and nature conservation targets.

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Land and Nature Conservation Level 5 (required).

Your Land and Nature Conservation Level (select 1 – 5): 5

Eco Rating Koh Jum Beach Villas Community

This category addresses policies and activities regarding staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the community.

Check all activities that apply:

_Y_  hire staff residing near the resort          _96__% local nationals
_Y_  use local suppliers                                _75_% purchased goods produced locally
_Y_  re-invest resort income locally            _100_% income re-invested locally
_Y_  pay above local prevailing wage and employ all year round
_Y_  pay into local social security
_Y_  provide health insurance or coverage
_Y__  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
_Y_  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community
_Y_  provide sustainable transport to work for staff also provide accomodation
_Y_  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects.
Community service, swimming lesson, English class. Development of sustainable business for locals on the property ( restaurant, boat tour, masseuse,…) Micro-loans.
___  Have enrolled your staff in any personal green training/certification schemes such as ecohelpline.com green leaf certification.

Level 1: one or two community activities

Level 2: three to five community activities

Level 3: six to seven community activities

Level 4: eight to nine community activities

Level 5: ten or more community activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record community activities; (2) test and apply additional methods to support the community; and (3) work towards specific community targets.

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Community Level 5 (required).

Your Community Level (select 1 – 5): 5

YOUR OVERALL ECO SCORE (add your level for each category and divide by 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6):      4.6

We have three final questions which are not part of the eco rating: 

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Koh Jum Beach Villas implemented a no burn policy where all leaves, coconuts and organic material is composted. A tree shredder was purchased  to turn coconut leaves and nuts into mulch. The locals have never composted and after one year when we turned the compost heap and demonstrated the top soil produced from composted leaves the local residents were convinced.

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.

We are currently investigating biodegradable soaps for the resort. On demand electrical water heating is being considered as an option to passive solar in some villa units where shade trees prevent their use.
We are planning

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating?

We have gotten very positive feedback from visitors to our villa resort on the low density concept, quality of villa construction, botanical gardens with labelled plant and tree names. These design elements will be preserved and carried forward in the future.