Tahun ini jadi tahun yang “istimewa” buat kami—untuk tidak mengatakan berat. Si bungsu baru saja menginjak kelas 1 SMP, menyusul kakaknya yang sudah dua tahun mondok di Jombang. Selain biaya pendidikan, yang cukup menantang adalah deraan emosi sebab kami mesti berjauhan dari kedua bocah. Sebagai penawar rindu, sambang atau jenguk rutin jadi solusinya.

Walaupun mondok di kota yang sama, mereka tinggal berjauhan. Si bungsu belajar di sebuah ponpes di kawasan Peterongan (sisi utara Jombang) sementara si sulung mondok nun jauh di sisi selatan yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Kediri. Jadi lumayan deh kalau mesti sambang bersamaan—setidaknya terpaut sekitar 30-45 menit.

Untunglah, jadwal sambang atau jenguk santri tidak dibatasi alias dibebaskan karena masih dalam masa adaptasi. Setidaknya sepekan sekali kami meluncur ke Jombang untuk mengunjungi duo bocil praremaja yang tengah menuntut ilmu agama. Asal ada kendaraan, sekali jalan bisa sekalian sambang ke dua lokasi dengan nyaman.

Motor lebih satset

Kalau sendirian, misalnya Bunda Xi atau saya doang yang berkunjung, maka moda transportasi paling tepat adalah sepeda motor. Lamongan ke Jombang yang berjarak sekitar 75 km biasa kami tempuh dengan motor sekitar 3 jam dengan sesekali beristirahat di tengah jalan.

Motor jadi andalan sebab lebih gesit, satset, dan ringan. Plus biaya BBM-nya tentu lebih bersahabat. Selain praktis karena saya bisa ngaso di mana saja tanpa ribet mencari tempat parkir, motor memungkinkan saya bermanuver di rute menantang yang naik turun dan berkelok-kelok dengan leluasa. 

Hanya saja memang relatif lebih capek dan riskan kalau kehujanan. Pun terasa hening sekaligus eerie sewaktu menembus hutan Kemlagi pada malam hari. Lamongan ke Jombang memang mesti melewati Mojokerto.

Nah, ada kejadian tak mengenakkan tatkala saya hendak menyelesaikan pendaftaran ulang si bungsu akhir Juni silam. Baru sampai di Kecamatan Kembangbahu Lamongan, motor mendadak terhenti saat melewati jalan menanjak. Saya tepikan motor dan coba kickstart berkali-kali, nihil! Motor tetap mogok. Saya lantas mendorong sampai tiba di sebuah warung kopi beberapa ratus meter dari titik kejadian. Setelah memesan secangkir kopi panas, putra pemilik warung berkenan menelepon temannya yang seorang montir.

Setelah menunggu sekitar satu jam, motor pun dibawa ke bengkel tempat temannya bekerja dan akhirnya bisa diperbaiki. Bukan cuma servis mesin dan penggantian oli, rupanya aki motor bermasalah. Wajarlah starter elektrik tidak berfungsi, sama sekali tidak ada reaksi pas saya pencet. Intinya, aki sudah soak dan tidak mampu lagi menjaga kestabilan pasokan listrik untuk menyalakan mesin.

Singkat kata aki motor terpaksa diganti. Syukurlah ada Samoto STZ5Z-3B, aki motor kering dengan spesifikasi 12V 5Ah yang menjadi penyelamat. Saya pilih aki kering dengan pertimbangan lebih praktis dan bebas perawatan.

Aki motor dari Samoto ini cocok untuk berbagai jenis motor, termasuk motor keluaran terbaru yang butuh aki dengan kapasitas dan performa yang stabil. Samoto STZ5Z-3B bisa dipasang untuk Honda Vario 110, Beat (semua tipe), Scoopy, Genio, Revo, dan bahkan motor manual Supra X 125.

Tak perlu repot sebab enggak perlu lagi mengisi air aki, sangat friendly buat dipakai istri untuk kegiatan sehari-hari. Selain itu, aki motor Samoto juga lebih tahan terhadap guncangan. Dengan begitu, perjalanan tenang dan pengeluaran pun aman. Daftar ulang beres, mondok semakin yes!

Kenyamanan mobil

Namun, ada kalanya mobil lebih ideal sebagai kendaraan untuk mengunjungi duo bocah. Pertama jelas dari sisi kenyamanan. Jalan berlubang di sepanjang Lamongan ke Mojokerto bisa “diredam” dengan mobil yang nyaman.

Alasan kedua, kenyamanan mobil bisa melindungi kami dari hujan atau gelapnya malam hutan Kemlagi seandainya kunjungan berlangsung seharian. Belum lagi kalau nenek atau ibu saya ikut serta, maka mobil jadi pilihan lantaran muat lebih banyak penumpang.

Berdasarkan pengalaman macetnya motor saat pendaftaran ulang, maka aki mobil harus dipastikan sehat. Untuk itu, lagi-lagi keputusan dijatuhkan pada Samoto yang memiliki produk Aki VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid). 

Aki jenis ini sangat fleksibel dan bisa dipakai untuk banyak kendaraan dan sistem lainnya. Tinggal pilih deh, apakah kita butuh daya awal yang besar (starter) atau untuk siklus pengisian-pengosongan berulang (deep cycle).

Dengan fleksibilitas yang tinggi, taka heran jika Aki VRLA dipakai untuk beragam mesin, termasuk sepeda motor dan mobil. Mobil-mobil modern yang menggunakan aki kering rata-rata mengadopsi teknologi VRLA sebab didesain khusus untuk menghasilkan daya awal (cranking) yang besar dalam waktu singkat untuk menyalakan mesin. Bye-bye macet di jalan!

Aki mobil Samoto memuaskan

Berkat aki mobil Samoto, performa mobil jadi optimal. Aki yang terawat akan membuat komponen kelistrikan di mobil bekerja dengan prima. Sistem starter mudah menyala, lampu-lampu menyala terang, klakson nyaring, dan fitur elektronik pun berfungsi optimal. Pokoknya performa mobil jadi makin stabil dan responsif.

Dengan aki mobil Samoto, tak ada lagi perasaan waswas bakalan mogok di tengah jalan. Sebagai jantung kelistrikan mobil, aki Samoto bakal membantu daya listrik tetap terjaga stabil sehingga saya tak lagi khawatir soal ngadat tiba-tiba. Perjalanan jauh apalagi di malam hari dari Jombang ke Lamongan mestinya jadi pengalaman keluarga yang menyenangkan–lebih-lebih saat anak hendak liburan.

Aki berkualitas seperti NS60 dari Samoto termasuk jenis aki mobil yang lazim dipasang di berbagai jenis kendaraan, terutama mobil-mobil Jepang seperti Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Xenia, dan lain-lain. Dengan kapasitas 45Ah (Ampere-hour) dan tegangan 12V, aki Samoto adalah solusi hemat sebab umur pakainya lebih panjang. Saya bisa save cuan setidak sampai 2 tahun dan biaya itu bisa dialokasikan untuk pendidikan anak-anak.

Yang tak kalah penting, aki mobil Samoto yang terawat baik akan menjalankan semua fungsi kelistrikan mobil secara optimal dan stabil. Kita tahu tegangan yang tidak atau kurang stabil bakal membebani komponen lain dan memperpendek umurnya. Enggak mau dong boros karena gonta-ganti suku cadang? 

Samoto solusi hidup praktis

Dengan kiprah sejak 2012, PT SAMOTO MEGA TEKNOLOGI layak diandalkan untuk memenuhi berbagai kebutuhan kita seputar solusi listrik atau mesin kendaraan. Selain aki motor dan aki mobil, Samoto juga memproduksi Stabilizer servomotor tegangan listrik.

Stabilizer Samoto memang mengadopsi teknologi Servo Motor dan Triac Control. Teknologi servo motor memastikan tegangan diatur secara otomatis dengan sangat akurat dan cepat. Adapun triac control mengendalikan daya listrik AC secara efisien. Nah, kombinasi keduanya membuat stabilizer Samoto bisa menstabilkan tegangan dengan lebih presisi dan cepat dibandingkan stabilizer tipe relay biasa.

Berkat stabilizer servomotor, peralatan mahal dan penting milik kita akan terlindungi. Misalnya, komputer dan server bakal terhindar dari kehilangan data atau kerusakan akibat lonjakan listrik.

Sementara TV, kulkas, dan AC dapat terus bekerja optimal sehingga memperpanjang umur kompresornya. Hemat cuan, mau dong? Peralatan audio dan video pun akan menghasilkan suara dan gambar yang stabil tanpa gangguan. Ini cocok banget buat influencer atau TikToker yang sering nge-live. 

Belum lagi alat-alat medis seperti mesin EKG dan alat terapi yang bisa dijaga agar terus berfungsi dengan tegangan yang akurat karena fluktuasi kecil bisa memengaruhi hasil. Samoto stabilizer bisa mewujudkannya.

Di pasaran stabilizer ini sudah dikenal luas di Indonesia, baik untuk penggunaan di rumah, ruko, maupun industri. Samoto memang hanya menghadirkan produk berkualitas dengan fitur lengkap dan harga yang bersaing. 

Dengan desain yang ringkas, Stabilizer Samoto memang pas untuk berbagai kebutuhan. Setiap pembelian sudah termasuk bracket, tinggal kita pasang di dinding untuk instalasi yang lebih rapi. Fiturnya pun lengkap, termasuk AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) demi menjaga kestabilan listrik.

Samoto sahabat keluarga indonesia

Perjalanan keluarga adalah momen berharga yang mesti dijaga. Kehangatan cinta harus dipelihara dan itu bisa dimulai dari kenyamanan berkendara. Jangan sampai motor mogok seperti saya yang membuyarkan konsentrasi dan potensi terganggunya sekolah anak.

Pastikan mengecek aki motor dan aki mobil sebelum bepergian bersama orang terkasih, terutama untuk jarak yang jauh. Pilih merek terpercaya dengan produk beragam seperti Samoto. 

Bukan cuma harga yang kompetitif, Samoto juga menawarkan layanan pelanggan yang responsif dan desain lokal yang berkualitas. Ingat, setiap suku cadang dalam kendaraan kita adalah modal untuk menciptakan kenangan indah bersama keluarga. Jangan rusak dengan pilih sembarangan atau asal murah. 

Teliti sebelum membeli, pastikan membeli yang asli sesuai kebutuhan dan kemampuan. Intip saja website Samoto untuk jenis-jenis lengkapnya karena kita bisa langsung mengirim pesan lewat Whatsapp. Atau bisa pesan langsung lewat Tokopedia. Siapa tahu bebas ongkir ya ga? Pokoknya, prioritaskan kenyamanan dan ketenangan keluarga tercinta.

Pilih service water heater terbaik demi kenyamanan hidup

Kamu pasti sudah tidak asing lagi dengan water heater Ariston, bukan? Produk asal Eropa ini sudah lama dikenal di Indonesia karena kualitasnya yang bagus dan desainnya yang elegan. Banyak rumah tangga, hotel, bahkan usaha kecil seperti kos-kosan memilih Ariston sebagai solusi pemanas air. 

Namun, seperti peralatan elektronik pada umumnya, water heater Ariston juga membutuhkan perawatan rutin agar kinerjanya tetap optimal. Itulah mengapa service water heater Ariston menjadi hal penting yang sebaiknya tidak kamu abaikan.

Pada artikel ini, kamu akan menemukan penjelasan lengkap tentang apa itu service water heater Ariston, kapan kamu perlu melakukan service, tanda-tanda water heater butuh perawatan, manfaat service rutin, serta tips memilih teknisi yang tepat. Mari kita bahas tuntas supaya kamu bisa selalu menikmati air hangat tanpa kendala.

Apa Itu Service Water Heater Ariston?

Service water heater Ariston adalah proses perawatan dan perbaikan yang dilakukan untuk menjaga kinerja pemanas air Ariston tetap optimal. Service ini bisa meliputi pembersihan tangki, pengecekan elemen pemanas, pemeriksaan pipa, penggantian suku cadang yang aus, hingga pemeriksaan kelistrikan secara menyeluruh.

Kamu mungkin berpikir, “Water heater kan alat sederhana, cukup pasang lalu pakai.” Padahal tidak sesederhana itu. Air di Indonesia sering kali mengandung kapur atau mineral tinggi, sehingga dalam jangka waktu tertentu bisa menimbulkan kerak pada bagian dalam tangki. Kerak ini kalau dibiarkan akan menurunkan performa water heater dan membuat konsumsi listrik jadi lebih boros. Dengan melakukan service secara berkala, kamu bisa mencegah masalah-masalah tersebut sejak dini.

Kenapa Kamu Perlu Melakukan Service Water Heater Ariston?

Banyak orang yang baru sadar pentingnya service water heater setelah alatnya bermasalah. Padahal kalau kamu rutin melakukan perawatan, kamu bisa menghindari biaya perbaikan besar di kemudian hari. Berikut alasan mengapa kamu perlu melakukan service secara rutin:

Menghemat Biaya Jangka Panjang

Saat kamu rutin melakukan service pada water heater Ariston, kamu sebenarnya sedang berinvestasi untuk jangka panjang. Mengapa? Karena setiap service adalah kesempatan untuk mendeteksi masalah sejak awal. Misalnya, ada komponen kecil yang mulai aus atau pipa yang sedikit bocor. Jika masalah-masalah kecil ini langsung diperbaiki, biaya yang kamu keluarkan akan jauh lebih murah dibanding membiarkannya hingga menjadi kerusakan besar. Dengan service rutin, kamu tidak perlu panik mengeluarkan biaya besar sekaligus, cukup biaya perawatan berkala yang jauh lebih terjangkau.

Menjaga Kualitas Air

Water heater yang tidak pernah diservice cenderung menumpuk kerak, pasir halus, atau kotoran di bagian dalam tangki. Kerak atau kotoran di dalam tangki bisa ikut terbawa ke air yang kamu gunakan. Dengan service, tangki akan dibersihkan sehingga kualitas air tetap higienis dan aman.

Memperpanjang Umur Water Heater

Peralatan yang dirawat dengan baik tentu akan lebih awet. Water heater Ariston kamu bisa bertahan bertahun-tahun lebih lama jika kamu rajin melakukan perawatan.

Meningkatkan Efisiensi Listrik

Elemen pemanas yang kotor atau berkerak memerlukan energi lebih besar untuk memanaskan air. Dengan service rutin, konsumsi listrik akan lebih efisien sehingga tagihan listrik kamu tetap hemat.

Tanda-tanda Water Heater Ariston Kamu Perlu Diservice

Bagaimana cara kamu tahu bahwa water heater sudah waktunya diservice? Perhatikan beberapa tanda berikut:

Air Tidak Cepat Panas

Jika sebelumnya air cepat panas tapi sekarang butuh waktu lama, kemungkinan ada masalah pada elemen pemanas atau ada kerak yang menghambat proses pemanasan.

Air yang Keluar Berwarna atau Berbau

Ini bisa menjadi indikasi bahwa ada kotoran atau kerak di dalam tangki. Segera lakukan service agar kualitas air tetap terjaga.

Suara Aneh dari Dalam Tangki

Jika kamu mendengar suara mendesis, gemeretak, atau suara aneh lainnya, bisa jadi ada kerak yang menumpuk atau komponen yang longgar.

Ada Kebocoran atau Rembesan Air

Kebocoran kecil kalau tidak segera ditangani bisa merusak komponen lain. Service segera sangat disarankan.

Jika kamu menemukan satu atau lebih tanda-tanda di atas, jangan tunda lagi untuk memanggil teknisi resmi service water heater Ariston.

Berapa Kali Idealnya Melakukan Service Water Heater

Frekuensi service sebenarnya bergantung pada penggunaan dan kondisi air di rumah kamu. Namun, sebagai panduan umum:

Untuk pemakaian rumah tangga normal, lakukan service setidaknya satu kali setahun.

Jika air di rumah kamu mengandung mineral tinggi atau sering keruh, kamu sebaiknya melakukan service setiap 6 bulan sekali.

Untuk hotel atau kos-kosan yang pemakaiannya lebih intens, jadwalkan service setiap 3 – 4 bulan sekali.

Dengan jadwal yang teratur, kamu bisa memastikan water heater Ariston selalu dalam kondisi terbaik.

Hal yang Dilakukan Saat Service Water Heater Ariston

Banyak orang penasaran, sebenarnya apa saja sih yang dilakukan teknisi saat service? Berikut ini beberapa tahapan umum yang biasanya dilakukan:

Pemeriksaan Awal

Teknisi akan memeriksa kondisi fisik water heater, pipa, dan instalasi listrik untuk memastikan tidak ada masalah besar.

Pembersihan Tangki dan Elemen Pemanas

Tangki akan dikuras untuk membersihkan kotoran, kerak, atau endapan mineral. Elemen pemanas juga dibersihkan agar kembali bekerja secara efisien.

Pengecekan Thermostat dan Safety Valve

Teknisi akan memeriksa komponen pengatur suhu dan katup pengaman untuk memastikan semuanya berfungsi baik.

Penggantian Suku Cadang Jika Perlu

Jika ditemukan suku cadang yang aus atau rusak, teknisi akan menyarankan penggantian. Suku cadang asli Ariston biasanya disarankan agar kinerja tetap optimal.

Pengujian Akhir

Setelah semua proses selesai, teknisi akan menguji kembali water heater untuk memastikan air kembali cepat panas dan semua fungsi berjalan normal.

Tips Memilih Jasa Service Water Heater Ariston

Service wwwater heater ariston, andalan keluarga Indonesia

Agar kamu tidak salah pilih, berikut beberapa tips untuk menemukan jasa service yang tepat:

Pilih Teknisi Resmi atau Berpengalaman

Pastikan kamu memilih teknisi yang sudah berpengalaman menangani water heater Ariston. Lebih baik lagi jika kamu bisa menemukan teknisi resmi dari jaringan Ariston.

Cek Review dan Rekomendasi

Cari ulasan dari pelanggan sebelumnya. Kamu bisa melihat di Google Review atau bertanya di forum rumah tangga.

Pastikan Menggunakan Suku Cadang Asli

Jangan tergiur harga murah yang menggunakan sparepart KW. Suku cadang asli menjamin umur lebih panjang dan performa lebih baik.

Minta Garansi Pekerjaan

Jasa service profesional biasanya memberikan garansi untuk pekerjaannya. Ini memberikan rasa aman bagi kamu jika masalah muncul kembali.

Kesimpulan

Water heater Ariston adalah investasi jangka panjang untuk kenyamanan kamu dan keluarga. Namun, jangan lupa bahwa setiap investasi memerlukan perawatan. Dengan melakukan service water heater Ariston secara rutin, kamu bisa menjaga kualitas air, menghemat biaya listrik, serta memperpanjang umur pemakaian alat.

Jangan tunggu sampai water heater rusak parah baru kamu panggil teknisi. Jadwalkan service water heater secara berkala, pilih teknisi yang terpercaya, dan pastikan perawatan dilakukan dengan standar yang baik. Dengan begitu, setiap kali kamu mandi air hangat, kamu bisa merasa tenang dan nyaman tanpa khawatir water heater bermasalah.

He sat comfortably in a chair just opposite me at the baperkam (community meeting hall) that fine morning. When he spoke, his confident gaze drifted, as if deciphering a hidden message from an old passage. His deep voice resonated with self-assurance.

“According to the wise, three things can transcend space and time: human values, education, and the environment.”

In other words, he believes that environmental awareness can help reduce religious radicalism. That remark came from Agus Supriono, who heads a neighborhood in Larangan Cirebon and also runs the Merbabu Asih Proklim (Climate Village Program).

Environmental care leads to food security.

On a visit back in 2018, I had the privilege to walk around the kampong dubbed the Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA) that he oversees, allowing me to finally prove what he claimed. With all the greenery and ample vegetation around, to be honest, I would've mistaken it for a traditional village rather than a housing complex if he hadn't clarified.

Harmony in diversity

From the main gate, on the right side of the road or across from Taman Astra, I saw a path leading to the Bodhi Sejati Temple. We made our way there and then chatted briefly in front of the temple surrounded by shady trees.

Leaving the temple, I turned right and spotted Pura Agung Jati Pramana--a Hindu temple on Bali Street, directly across from a nursing home run by the local Christian foundation. Quite surprisingly, the temple wall stands right next to that of the As-Salam Mosque, symbolizing a beautiful interfaith harmony.

Harmony in diversity, a foundation for sustainable environmental preservation | Personal document

I learned another striking detail from my chat with an older gentleman, Pak Haji. His home, which sits next to the nursing home, has a large yard that's regularly used for bus parking when local Hindus have events at the temple. It's a wonderful illustration of the religious harmony thriving in Merbabu Asih, Cirebon, West Java.

Adherents of other religions, especially Muslims, will volunteer to act as parking attendants and provide security during the event.

"This is what we call smart NKRI, also smart environment!" said Mr. Agus, asserting the value of interfaith harmony.

 

He firmly assured that the solidarity of the residents in the neighborhood is credited to the awareness to manage the environment in which they live together. In essence, the capital of tolerance is optimized to solve common problems, in this case the environment, such as garbage and flooding.

So it is not a strange sight when residents from various beliefs gather casually at the baperkam to cook together. They will enjoy the fruit of their hard work from the KRPL (Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari - the sustainable food corner). Vegetables and fish can be taken, while rice is obtained from donations from residents. Crackers or other accompaniments come from other residents.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, they also eat the food together on banana leaves typical of the village. Talking without barriers regardless of ethnicity and religion. The harmony of diversity is maintained, both between children and adults.

Patience leads to awareness

It was Chaidir who has made Proklim Merbabu Asih to come into being. About 17 years ago he was concerned about the stench of garbage at the dump near his house. Taking Agus along, he was determined to do something in response to the climate change disaster that often hits Cirebon. He recounted how terrible the flood, landslide, drought, and diseases were due to sanitation back then. As the ProKlim prevails, their housing complex is now free from flood, to name one.

"Whenever it rains heavily, the water simply passes through," said Agus with a chuckle.

Agus and Chaidir did not deny the fatigue during the process of starting up until becoming the Kampung Berseri Astra (Astra Bright Village) as it is today. Extra patience and consistency are really needed to create an area that cares about the environment.

When asked about tips for raising awareness of residents to be proklim-minded, Agus revealed three points that he continuously whispered to residents. With a serious expression and a firm voice, he said,

“One, it is undeniable that we live in a living environment. Second, the rate of waste growth is faster than the rate of population growth. Third, only lunatics would refuse to have a clean village.”

Those important messages are injected into the audience on various occasions. For example, during routine meetings, Friday sermons, religious rituals, and other crucial events.

From there, awareness was gradually fostered so that it became the energy that drives the spirit of caring for the environment sustainably. They are still enthusiastic in various activities until now.

Energy of sharing kindness

The choice of the word "activity" at first glance is simple but very genius. The word activity implies an activity that reminds residents to continue to be 'active' in familiarizing themselves with the environment. Different from the word program, for example, which may be difficult to familiarize with.

"Keep away from hotmix-minded, Mas!" Agus said as we left the baperkam.

They deliberately covered the village roads with paving blocks instead of asphalt to make it easier for water to return to the ground and be used again. 

"On the one hand, the community is excessively taking groundwater. On the other hand, they don't seem to want to return it to the ground," Agus spoke in seriousness.

This is where the important role of the infiltration wells they made at several points. A total of 17 infiltration wells are designed to collect rainwater so that it can be harvested by residents when water is scarce.

"We also don't have wells here, maybe those who enjoy our water are the neighboring area (outside the RW)," added Chaidir with a smile.

I nodded when Agus added, "Finally, there is a lot of goodness!" because the energy of sharing goodness is real thanks to collaboration between beliefs in preserving the environment.

You could say this is the form of true environmental harmony: namely the willingness to act and share! There are no more puddles, let alone floods because there are infiltration wells and 118 biopore points that are also used as composting facilities. Some of the infiltration wells have been transformed into catfish ponds so that they can be more productive.

In order to become another goodness, rainwater must not be wasted into the ground. The water is collected and channeled through special pipes to wells that have been prepared, including in front of the mosque, baperkam, and other points.

In addition to being harvested when water is scarce, the water reservoirs in the four locations are apparently able to maintain the quality of the surrounding buildings so that they remain sturdy and do not crack.

"The key is to explain complex things to residents in layman's terms," ​​said Agus when I asked about the residents' responses at the beginning of the rainwater harvesting initiative.

Sustainable Environmental Management 

Thanks to integrated and sustainable environmental management, it is no wonder that coolness immediately grips me as I walk along the village streets. Various vegetation looks green and lush covering the entire village alley.

If Agus had not explained, I would have hardly believed that I was in a city housing complex because it looked so beautiful like a natural village. Agus and Chaidir invited me to walk through the village alleys that were indeed radiant, as the name implies: Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA).

Because of that, RW Merbabu Asih has received many awards related to environmental management as a manifestation of the Climate Village Program (ProKlim) initiated by the government. They always prioritize the spirit of sustainable management.

In practice, they transform all components into resources that bring blessings. Waste is no exception. After being sorted, organic waste is processed into compost, while non-organic waste is engineered into various crafts with high economic value.

Plastic waste, for example, instead of being thrown away in the trash as many people do, the waste is knitted into cool bags and is worth hundreds of thousands of rupiah. However, based on mutual agreement, most of the non-organic waste is collected to be sold.

Hundreds of Million Rupiah from Waste

To accommodate the proceeds from the sale of this waste, a bank was formed called Bank Sampah Secerah Pagi or familiarly abbreviated as BSSP. Secerah Pagi is apparently an acronym for Semoga Cepat Rapih Pekarangan Asri Gemerlap Indah.

"Obviously this isn't just a name, but a prayer, Mas!" said Dedeh, a middle-aged woman who is in charge of the waste bank when we visited the BSSP location that afternoon.

Seeing the residents who actively manage the environment here, Secerah Pagi is indeed a name that represents enthusiasm. That every activity they do with optimism and full of enthusiasm like the bright sunshine in the morning.

Every Saturday morning or according to the agreed schedule, BSSP officers usually go around to pick up waste from house to house. So they don't just wait for customers to deposit it into the bank.

After being sorted, non-organic waste is then weighed and recorded in each account book. Uniquely, all residents obeyed when Agus issued an infak or instruksi faksa (forced instruction) by setting a selling price below the market price.

The money from the sale of waste was given to the next waste pick-up when the waste was finished being sold. Unexpectedly, most residents even gave up their balances to enlarge BSSP.

"That's a cool benefit!" said Agus in his distinctive deep voice.

However, residents who feel they need it are still allowed to take the balance they have.

For reasons of transparency and accountability, residents agreed to establish the Secerah Pagi Cooperative. Of the approximately 111 customers, 69 have joined the cooperative. Well, this joint venture has gradually managed to collect capital of 152 million rupiah which was accumulated with almost no capital at the beginning.

According to Dedeh, each cooperative member can access loans ranging from IDR 4-10 million without collateral or complicated processes. Fund management is carried out on a family basis, so the repayment tenor is determined according to the agreement with a light addition in order to expand their own cooperative.

Astra's Significant Support

The growth of the waste bank they manage is also inseparable from the support of PT Asuransi Astra Buana (AAB) Cirebon branch which has been donating their office waste to BSSP as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) manifestation. After receiving non-organic waste, BSSP then sells it and reports the sales results to AAB.

This kind of support is very productive because it is sustainable, so it also spurs the development of waste banks whose results are used for the welfare of residents, especially in environmental empowerment programs.

In addition, Astra also donated 1,500 tree seeds to support the greening movement and the availability of more oxygen in Merbabu Asih. Residents said they were happy with this assistance because they felt a spiritual bond to continue to grow in environmental friendliness with Astra. Within a certain period, Astra also encouraged the acceleration of ProKlim, one of which was by building a park that functions both ecologically and aesthetically.

In addition, Agus and the team have built oxygen zones at five points. In addition to sheltering travelers and spreading oxygen, the construction of various climbing plants has apparently been chosen in such a way that it also produces benefits.

So Agus is right that talking about ProKlim is not talking about profit, but rather benefits. Fruits such as grapes, passion fruit, Japanese cucumbers, and grass jelly leaves that climb the poles in the five oxygen zones can indeed be picked by residents who need them, such as Japanese cucumbers which are good for lowering high blood pressure.

"Just look at sick people in hospitals who have to use oxygen. While here we get oxygen from plants. By planting, residents can feel oxygen." Agus also spread this kind of awareness which was well received by residents.

Astra Park is located at the main entrance, not only showing Astra's commitment to environmental sustainability as stated in one of their visions, namely to become a company that has social responsibility and is environmentally friendly.

No less important, this park is a positive symbol to invite anyone to maintain regional culture as symbolized by the mega mendung batik motif on the garden wall. The Peace of Mind text printed next to it implies a strong message for us to appreciate Indonesia's diversity which has been realized in the form of interfaith harmony in KBA Larangan.

Food security is not a slogan

When Agus mentioned that the monthly contributions of Merbabu Asih residents were consistent at a certain figure while in other housing estates they continued to soar, I couln't help shaking my head.

"Because they are safe in cooperatives, safe in waste banks, safe in the education sector," Agus answered firmly. The point is that their economic independence has been formed and is sufficient.

Visitors or guests who come in groups usually also donate funds by filling a charity box as capital for lunch plus getting training at KBA Merbabu Asih on environmental management. The guests are then treated to typical Cirebon cuisine as well as a medium for promoting local food.

In addition to the success of running a waste bank that is beneficial for residents, efforts related to food security in this area also deserve a thumbs up. How could it not be, with limited land in the housing complex, they can still have a source of food by transforming an empty plot of land into the Sustainable Food House Area (KRPL).

Owned by a resident, this land was then agreed to be managed as a farming area, including a place to stand a greenhouse where the seeding and nursery process takes place.

Not only a greenhouse, this 60 m2 land is planted with various vegetables and fruits that have been harvested alternately. There are spinach, kale, bok choy, lime leaves, corn, eggplant, chili, papaya, guava, and even tubers, all of which can be enjoyed by residents without having to buy them.

So when residents in other places are screaming because the price of chilies has skyrocketed, the residents of Merbabu Asih are actually getting an abundance. The skyrocketing price of chilies has no effect at all because they never buy them.

As if not wanting to waste it, in the corner of the KRPL a pond was also made from tarpaulin measuring approximately 1x6 meters which is planted with tilapia donated by the local agricultural office. These fish can be harvested when residents want, for example when having a casual meal at the baperkam.

Another form of food security in the 5.8-hectare RW was seen when I found green plants filling all the alleys and yards of residents' houses. Whether in the form of hydroponics or planted in polybags, residents seem not to want to waste even the smallest piece of land in front of their houses.

There are always rows of plants, like what I saw in front of Chaidir's house. Water spinach, chilies, onions, kenikir, starfruit, papaya, moringa, and even bidara grow well there. Mangoes and guavas donated by Astra also shade the roads.

It is no exaggeration to say that food security has become a shared value in KBA Larangan, Cirebon. A collective awareness has been built to acknowledge human dependence on nature so that we cannot arbitrarily ignore the environment.

Appreciation and emulation 

The unity between religious communities in RW 08 has clearly given birth to collaborative energy in realizing environmental sustainability and independent food security. It is no wonder that the jury and panelists of KBA 2017 named Merbabu Asih as the First Best Astra Bright Village—beating out 5 other finalists throughout Indonesia.

The award also opened up opportunities for outsiders to learn the secrets of tolerance-based environmental management. No less than residents of housing complexes from other cities, communities, government elements, students, and academics have ‘ngangsuh kawruh’ in this beautiful place. Even a soldier from Indramayu and Kuningan studied at KBA Larangan and their city was awarded the Adipura while Cirebon was not. Agus admitted that he was happy and always hoped that the guests could apply better concepts in their home areas.

Appreciation also came from abroad. It is recorded that foreign guests from Malaysia, Australia, Burma, America, Canada, England, and Sweden have visited and expressed their interest in the simple ProkLim concept that has been successfully implemented in the Merbabu Asih area.