I purchased a piece of land in 1986 for Rs 7,999. In my balance sheet for 2009-10, it was valued at Rs 30,000. I sold the property for Rs 8,00,000 on March 10. What will be my long-term capital gains tax? How can I get exemption from long-term capital gains tax?
To calculate your capital gains, first find out the cost inflation indices corresponding to the year of purchase and the year of sale of the property. The income tax department releases this index every financial year. The cost inflation multiplier for you will be determined by the index of the financial year in which the property was sold divided by the index of financial year in which it was bought. Multiply your cost of acquisition by this cost inflation multiplier. The difference between the sale price of the property and the inflation-adjusted cost price will be your long-term capital gains. By investing the amount in bonds of NHAI and REC, you can claim exemption from capital gains tax.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Green’s the colour of construction
According to a survey, energy efficiency is a priority in construction projects, which is why building solutions are going green
The recent Carlton Towers fire in Bangalore could have been largely contained had a new construction technology been deployed. New ideas in building technologies are changing construction dynamics. These encompass a wide spectrum of activities spanning from green initiatives to new guidelines in safety standards to conservation of power. As the environment we live in changes, so do building solutions.
Changing times
Construction technology in India over the past few decades was extremely conservative in approach. However, with the opening up of the markets and the subsequent realty boom, a great need was felt to implement technologies that could speed up and accelerate construction. “These technologies include efficient and light weight aluminium shuttering systems like ‘Mivan’ to technologies developed using pre-cast construction.
In addition to speed, eco-crisis has become an issue of serious concern, a significant part of which is caused by construction. To address these issues, “green building technologies” have gained immense importance wherein there’s a lot of focus at every level, commencing with simple systems including resource optimisation, bio-walls and roofs, water management with zero-discharge systems, energy supplementation through alternative resources and waste management,” explains Indrajit Kembhavi, Principal Architect, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation.
For instance, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency business makes buildings more comfortable, productive, safe and energy-efficient. Their products and services include HVAC&R equipment and control systems, industrial refrigeration, fire and security systems, and services for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. In fact, products and services in this space are constantly seeing innovation like never before, compelling builders to rethink their building solutions.
Aurigo’s BRIX 2009, the company’s fifth generation product is a comprehensive capital programme and project management system (CPMS) that completely automates the entire lifecycle of a large capital construction project; starting from estimation, planning, project monitoring, site inspection, asset maintenance and even asset disposal. Further, it integrates seamlessly with standard ERP platforms to create industry ready ERP solutions for the infrastructure and construction verticals.
“This helps companies streamline their processes, control costs and reduce delays. The bottom line is that in the infrastructure domain, the spend on implementing IT tools provides immediate ROI. For example, even a mere one per cent cost reduction in a small Rs 100 crore road project cost is sufficient to recover the investment made in technology,” says Balaji Sreenivasan, founder & CEO, Aurigo Software Technologies.
Drywall technology
Fabtech’s Saral Plaswall is a unique lost-in-place system or permanent concrete form which replaces costly steel, aluminium, plywood for work, brick laying, plastering, cement rendering and producing complete load bearing wall.
Likewise, Saint-Gobain Gyproc gypsum plaster boards are based on a drywall technology. Gypsum is a light-weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins and has excellent insulation properties (both thermal and acoustic) and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control when used in combination with the right systems.
Studies have shown that acoustically designed spaces can increase the overall productivity in terms of better concentration level of people working in offices, allow clearer communication in schools thus increasing the effectiveness of teaching, facilitate a disturbance free environment in hospitals thus ensuring faster patient recovery in hospitals etc.
“Keeping this trend in mind, Saint-Gobain Gyproc is launching its global acoustic solution, Ecophon in the Indian market. Ecophon’s mission is to contribute to a good working environment for the eye, the ear and the mind. This is done by supplying sound absorbing ceiling and wall absorber systems with well devised functions, attractive design and excellent sound absorption,” says Venkat Subramanian, MD – Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Limited.
Trends
According to the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) Survey, conducted by Johnson Controls for Corporate India in 2009, more than 92 per cent of the respondents say that energy efficiency is a priority in new construction as well as in renovation projects. The EEI findings highlight the fact that business leaders are becoming increasingly aware of the need for energy efficiency and the potential impact this can have on reducing operating costs.
Evolving trends in building solutions include speedy construction techniques to turn around more built-up space in a shorter time frame, involving pre-cast, pre-fabricated, aluminum shuttering technology and the like. Reliance on machinery and modern equipment to maximise quality and reduce error is also being seen.
Most importantly evolution of green design practices to improve efficiency and performance of buildings has taken precedence.
“There is a growing demand for renewable energy - solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic. Reason is not just the rising energy prices but also the growing awareness of the economic and environmental impact. The result is a cleaner source of energy, reduced emissions, less cost volatility, greater energy independence, all while you operate with cost reduction,” says Pramoda Karkal, Vice President & Managing Director, India, Johnson Controls. With the upsurge in infrastructure investment, infrastructure companies are realising the role technology can play in increasing profitability.
“The one big advantage for the Indian infrastructure companies is that as first time technology adopters, they are not burdened with legacy IT investments. They can leapfrog into the latest feature rich, easy to use, standard solution available at a cost that is a fraction of what it was a decade ago,” opines Sreenivasan.
“People are moving towards modular systems. We at Fabtech started this trend way back in 2002, when we launched our modular Pre-Fabricated, Pre-engineered sandwiched partitions in India (replacing brick and mortar internals for the pharma industry),” says Asif A Khan Director Fabtech Technologies Pvt Ltd.
The green equation
An obvious and much needed aspect is that of conserving the environment. Says Krish Murali Eswar (COO BCIL), “we have been attempting to bring back the spirit of living into our living rooms. Our floors are made with natural materials that consume less energy to manufacture or process; our walls are coated with chemical-free paints; our ceilings are fitted with energy efficient lighting that consume much less energy while giving you better visual comfort; the fenestration - the windows and doors - open out to natural-light and bring in fresh-air; the terrace gardens ensure that the air is cool always.”
BCIL’s air conditioning system is either a chemical-free air handling system or an ammonia-based system that does not hurt the planet. Their newer buildings come with dual plumbing system where the water that drains from the wash basin goes to a treatment plant.
The treated water fills the flush tanks in the closet. The flushed water then is treated in a central plant and the treated water is used for campus irrigation and other external washing purposes. “Glass can save as much as 35 to 40 per cent energy by allowing entry of natural light, preventing harmful rays and controlling room-temperature.
As a result, the need for high performance glass in green buildings has increased tremendously,” adds Mukul Somany, JMD, Hindusthan National Glass Group.
The ideal solution for any building is to ensure that the activities involved in buildings are sustainable. Few such activities include site maintenance during construction, water efficient design, energy efficient design and monitoring, materials used in construction, solid waste management and proper maintenance of indoor air quality during construction and post occupancy of the building. These solutions can be implemented a marginally incremental cost of 3-5 per cent.
In fact, practical studies indicate that implementation of such solutions can result in minimum energy saving of 14 per cent and water savings of 20-30 per cent, while occupant productivity can be enhanced by as much as 16 per cent.
Says Sriram and Lt Col (Retd) A K Beri MRICS, Managing Director- Property & Asset Management, JLLM, “as sustainable buildings demand intelligent building controls, it is essential to ensure that all technologies and systems that operate these structures work effectively and efficiently.
Therefore, it is critical for the facilities management team to ensure that in addition to cursory maintenance, extensive and regular checks are run which helps reduce capital repairs, unscheduled shutdowns, and extends equipment life which in turn extends the life of the facility.”
“Studies have shown that putting an Intelligent Building Management System in a facility has an impact of reducing operating costs by nearly 10-20 per cent over what could have been – without compromising on quality,” says Milind Godbole, Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions (India).
These systems are extremely effective as there a greater efficiency at both production and operational levels, while at the same time reducing costs through optimization of resources, water and energy conservation, and also apart from savings, enhances lifecycles while reducing cost of maintenance. And as Lily Tomlin once remarked, “the road to success is always under construction!
The recent Carlton Towers fire in Bangalore could have been largely contained had a new construction technology been deployed. New ideas in building technologies are changing construction dynamics. These encompass a wide spectrum of activities spanning from green initiatives to new guidelines in safety standards to conservation of power. As the environment we live in changes, so do building solutions.Changing times
Construction technology in India over the past few decades was extremely conservative in approach. However, with the opening up of the markets and the subsequent realty boom, a great need was felt to implement technologies that could speed up and accelerate construction. “These technologies include efficient and light weight aluminium shuttering systems like ‘Mivan’ to technologies developed using pre-cast construction.
In addition to speed, eco-crisis has become an issue of serious concern, a significant part of which is caused by construction. To address these issues, “green building technologies” have gained immense importance wherein there’s a lot of focus at every level, commencing with simple systems including resource optimisation, bio-walls and roofs, water management with zero-discharge systems, energy supplementation through alternative resources and waste management,” explains Indrajit Kembhavi, Principal Architect, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation.
For instance, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency business makes buildings more comfortable, productive, safe and energy-efficient. Their products and services include HVAC&R equipment and control systems, industrial refrigeration, fire and security systems, and services for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. In fact, products and services in this space are constantly seeing innovation like never before, compelling builders to rethink their building solutions.
Aurigo’s BRIX 2009, the company’s fifth generation product is a comprehensive capital programme and project management system (CPMS) that completely automates the entire lifecycle of a large capital construction project; starting from estimation, planning, project monitoring, site inspection, asset maintenance and even asset disposal. Further, it integrates seamlessly with standard ERP platforms to create industry ready ERP solutions for the infrastructure and construction verticals.
“This helps companies streamline their processes, control costs and reduce delays. The bottom line is that in the infrastructure domain, the spend on implementing IT tools provides immediate ROI. For example, even a mere one per cent cost reduction in a small Rs 100 crore road project cost is sufficient to recover the investment made in technology,” says Balaji Sreenivasan, founder & CEO, Aurigo Software Technologies.
Drywall technology
Fabtech’s Saral Plaswall is a unique lost-in-place system or permanent concrete form which replaces costly steel, aluminium, plywood for work, brick laying, plastering, cement rendering and producing complete load bearing wall.
Likewise, Saint-Gobain Gyproc gypsum plaster boards are based on a drywall technology. Gypsum is a light-weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins and has excellent insulation properties (both thermal and acoustic) and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control when used in combination with the right systems.
Studies have shown that acoustically designed spaces can increase the overall productivity in terms of better concentration level of people working in offices, allow clearer communication in schools thus increasing the effectiveness of teaching, facilitate a disturbance free environment in hospitals thus ensuring faster patient recovery in hospitals etc.
“Keeping this trend in mind, Saint-Gobain Gyproc is launching its global acoustic solution, Ecophon in the Indian market. Ecophon’s mission is to contribute to a good working environment for the eye, the ear and the mind. This is done by supplying sound absorbing ceiling and wall absorber systems with well devised functions, attractive design and excellent sound absorption,” says Venkat Subramanian, MD – Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Limited.
Trends
According to the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) Survey, conducted by Johnson Controls for Corporate India in 2009, more than 92 per cent of the respondents say that energy efficiency is a priority in new construction as well as in renovation projects. The EEI findings highlight the fact that business leaders are becoming increasingly aware of the need for energy efficiency and the potential impact this can have on reducing operating costs.
Evolving trends in building solutions include speedy construction techniques to turn around more built-up space in a shorter time frame, involving pre-cast, pre-fabricated, aluminum shuttering technology and the like. Reliance on machinery and modern equipment to maximise quality and reduce error is also being seen.
Most importantly evolution of green design practices to improve efficiency and performance of buildings has taken precedence.
“There is a growing demand for renewable energy - solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic. Reason is not just the rising energy prices but also the growing awareness of the economic and environmental impact. The result is a cleaner source of energy, reduced emissions, less cost volatility, greater energy independence, all while you operate with cost reduction,” says Pramoda Karkal, Vice President & Managing Director, India, Johnson Controls. With the upsurge in infrastructure investment, infrastructure companies are realising the role technology can play in increasing profitability.
“The one big advantage for the Indian infrastructure companies is that as first time technology adopters, they are not burdened with legacy IT investments. They can leapfrog into the latest feature rich, easy to use, standard solution available at a cost that is a fraction of what it was a decade ago,” opines Sreenivasan.
“People are moving towards modular systems. We at Fabtech started this trend way back in 2002, when we launched our modular Pre-Fabricated, Pre-engineered sandwiched partitions in India (replacing brick and mortar internals for the pharma industry),” says Asif A Khan Director Fabtech Technologies Pvt Ltd.
The green equation
An obvious and much needed aspect is that of conserving the environment. Says Krish Murali Eswar (COO BCIL), “we have been attempting to bring back the spirit of living into our living rooms. Our floors are made with natural materials that consume less energy to manufacture or process; our walls are coated with chemical-free paints; our ceilings are fitted with energy efficient lighting that consume much less energy while giving you better visual comfort; the fenestration - the windows and doors - open out to natural-light and bring in fresh-air; the terrace gardens ensure that the air is cool always.”
BCIL’s air conditioning system is either a chemical-free air handling system or an ammonia-based system that does not hurt the planet. Their newer buildings come with dual plumbing system where the water that drains from the wash basin goes to a treatment plant.
The treated water fills the flush tanks in the closet. The flushed water then is treated in a central plant and the treated water is used for campus irrigation and other external washing purposes. “Glass can save as much as 35 to 40 per cent energy by allowing entry of natural light, preventing harmful rays and controlling room-temperature.
As a result, the need for high performance glass in green buildings has increased tremendously,” adds Mukul Somany, JMD, Hindusthan National Glass Group.
The ideal solution for any building is to ensure that the activities involved in buildings are sustainable. Few such activities include site maintenance during construction, water efficient design, energy efficient design and monitoring, materials used in construction, solid waste management and proper maintenance of indoor air quality during construction and post occupancy of the building. These solutions can be implemented a marginally incremental cost of 3-5 per cent.
In fact, practical studies indicate that implementation of such solutions can result in minimum energy saving of 14 per cent and water savings of 20-30 per cent, while occupant productivity can be enhanced by as much as 16 per cent.
Says Sriram and Lt Col (Retd) A K Beri MRICS, Managing Director- Property & Asset Management, JLLM, “as sustainable buildings demand intelligent building controls, it is essential to ensure that all technologies and systems that operate these structures work effectively and efficiently.
Therefore, it is critical for the facilities management team to ensure that in addition to cursory maintenance, extensive and regular checks are run which helps reduce capital repairs, unscheduled shutdowns, and extends equipment life which in turn extends the life of the facility.”
“Studies have shown that putting an Intelligent Building Management System in a facility has an impact of reducing operating costs by nearly 10-20 per cent over what could have been – without compromising on quality,” says Milind Godbole, Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions (India).
These systems are extremely effective as there a greater efficiency at both production and operational levels, while at the same time reducing costs through optimization of resources, water and energy conservation, and also apart from savings, enhances lifecycles while reducing cost of maintenance. And as Lily Tomlin once remarked, “the road to success is always under construction!
A little power house
The Guardian
This hi-tech home creates more energy than it uses. But what’s it like to live in – and how does that touchscreen work, asks Cathy Strongman
Imagine a house so advanced and eco-friendly that within 40 years it will have fed more energy back into the national grid than was used to build it, wiping out its carbon debt to the planet.
For the past seven months, Sverre and Sophie Simonsen and their three children have been living in the world’s first Active House – a sleek, angular building outside Aarhus in
Denmark.
It’s one of seven being built across Europe by different architects – it will be joined in the autumn by an equally green semi in Northamptonshire. For 12 months, a family will occupy each home while the building’s performance and the family’s experience are monitored.
Sverre had been itching to move from their 1970s home. “It’s a typical suburban Danish house with small dark rooms,” he says. “I’d always wondered what it would be like to live in a contemporary, open-plan building.” Their old home is only 400m away.
Light fantastic Glass features heavily in the £500,000 design, by Aart Architects for VKR Holding. “The natural light has definitely made a difference to our mood,” Sophie says. It has twice as many windows as an average house, all triple-glazed with super-insulated frames. This is in contrast to most eco homes, where large windows on all but the southern facades are frowned on due to the material’s poor insulation.
In winter, solar radiation streaming through the windows provides 50 per cent of the heating, while in summer it is restricted by an automated system that controls sunscreens and opens windows. With the family’s feedback, the pre-set programmes have been tweaked.
“It got very hot last summer, and it was so bright you needed sunglasses in the kitchen,” Sophie says. Privacy also proved a problem, because the perforated screens offered little respite from passersby. “They could see what we were having for dinner,” she says. They would occasionally open in the middle of the night, too; they are now manually operated.
Technical hiccups
Getting to grips with the lights that automatically turn off when sensors detect no activity was equally interesting. “If you’ve been sitting on the toilet a little too long, you’re suddenly plunged into darkness,” Sverre says. “And we had to install bedside lamps for the children as their lights kept turning off during bedtime stories.”
Trial and error
The computerised control
panel, which displays how much energy and hot water the house is producing and consuming, looks fiendishly complicated.
“The blinds and windows are numbered differently, with no diagram, so at the start it
was trial and error,” Sophie says. “But once you’ve figured it out, you don’t have to understand the technology – you just turn
it on and type.”
Solar power
The southern facade of the roof is pitched at 35 degrees to maximise solar gain, and coated with solar cells and collectors. The cells generate electricity for the lighting, appliances and the control system. They should produce 5,500kW a year – nearly double the amount required by the family – so for eight months excess energy is fed back to the grid. This means that, in winter, extra energy is provided from the grid for free. The solar collectors provide more than 50 per cent of the hot water and, combined with a solar heat pump, power the underfloor heating. There’s also a ventilation system, which takes heat from stale air being extracted and uses it to warm fresh, filtered air entering the home.
Most impressive of all, this energy balance is achieved
without the family living a monastic life: the house has two flatscreen TVs, a kitchen crammed with Siemens and Gaggenau appliances, and a double shower. “You
don’t feel you’re making sacrifices,” Sophie says. “We use less energy without thinking about it.”
The future
In five months, when the house goes up for sale and the squad of technicians dissipates, the Simonsens will move back to their 70s home. They aren’t putting in an offer, not because they don’t enjoy the life, but because with cutting-edge technology the cost and hassle of finding someone to fix it is too high.
Pioneering houses such as these demonstrate how green we can be. But only once the technology becomes mainstream and the workforce is trained to install and repair it, will homes such as this become a fixture on our streets.
This hi-tech home creates more energy than it uses. But what’s it like to live in – and how does that touchscreen work, asks Cathy Strongman
Imagine a house so advanced and eco-friendly that within 40 years it will have fed more energy back into the national grid than was used to build it, wiping out its carbon debt to the planet.
For the past seven months, Sverre and Sophie Simonsen and their three children have been living in the world’s first Active House – a sleek, angular building outside Aarhus in
Denmark.
It’s one of seven being built across Europe by different architects – it will be joined in the autumn by an equally green semi in Northamptonshire. For 12 months, a family will occupy each home while the building’s performance and the family’s experience are monitored.
Sverre had been itching to move from their 1970s home. “It’s a typical suburban Danish house with small dark rooms,” he says. “I’d always wondered what it would be like to live in a contemporary, open-plan building.” Their old home is only 400m away.
Light fantastic Glass features heavily in the £500,000 design, by Aart Architects for VKR Holding. “The natural light has definitely made a difference to our mood,” Sophie says. It has twice as many windows as an average house, all triple-glazed with super-insulated frames. This is in contrast to most eco homes, where large windows on all but the southern facades are frowned on due to the material’s poor insulation.
In winter, solar radiation streaming through the windows provides 50 per cent of the heating, while in summer it is restricted by an automated system that controls sunscreens and opens windows. With the family’s feedback, the pre-set programmes have been tweaked.
“It got very hot last summer, and it was so bright you needed sunglasses in the kitchen,” Sophie says. Privacy also proved a problem, because the perforated screens offered little respite from passersby. “They could see what we were having for dinner,” she says. They would occasionally open in the middle of the night, too; they are now manually operated.
Technical hiccups
Getting to grips with the lights that automatically turn off when sensors detect no activity was equally interesting. “If you’ve been sitting on the toilet a little too long, you’re suddenly plunged into darkness,” Sverre says. “And we had to install bedside lamps for the children as their lights kept turning off during bedtime stories.”
Trial and error
The computerised control
panel, which displays how much energy and hot water the house is producing and consuming, looks fiendishly complicated.
“The blinds and windows are numbered differently, with no diagram, so at the start it
was trial and error,” Sophie says. “But once you’ve figured it out, you don’t have to understand the technology – you just turn
it on and type.”
Solar power
The southern facade of the roof is pitched at 35 degrees to maximise solar gain, and coated with solar cells and collectors. The cells generate electricity for the lighting, appliances and the control system. They should produce 5,500kW a year – nearly double the amount required by the family – so for eight months excess energy is fed back to the grid. This means that, in winter, extra energy is provided from the grid for free. The solar collectors provide more than 50 per cent of the hot water and, combined with a solar heat pump, power the underfloor heating. There’s also a ventilation system, which takes heat from stale air being extracted and uses it to warm fresh, filtered air entering the home.
Most impressive of all, this energy balance is achieved
without the family living a monastic life: the house has two flatscreen TVs, a kitchen crammed with Siemens and Gaggenau appliances, and a double shower. “You
don’t feel you’re making sacrifices,” Sophie says. “We use less energy without thinking about it.”
The future
In five months, when the house goes up for sale and the squad of technicians dissipates, the Simonsens will move back to their 70s home. They aren’t putting in an offer, not because they don’t enjoy the life, but because with cutting-edge technology the cost and hassle of finding someone to fix it is too high.
Pioneering houses such as these demonstrate how green we can be. But only once the technology becomes mainstream and the workforce is trained to install and repair it, will homes such as this become a fixture on our streets.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
For your own patch of green
All those organic vegetables, fruits and flowers can be home grown. Go natural by building your very own organic garden!
So what exactly is an organic garden? It’s a space where you can grow fruits, vegetables and flowers without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Banishing bugs and weeds, fertilising plants — everything is accomplished through practices in harmony with nature rather than challenging it.
Result? Foods that are superior in quality and rich in nutrition as well as economical. And, you needn’t spend on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. They don’t even need much space at home.
A few square feet of sunny space, a window-box or even some containers will suffice. It’s wise to start the experiment on a small scale. A 4’x4’ garden is usually recommended for beginners. Subsequent expansion is an open option. Determine the dimension based on your requirements. Do you want your garden to be a regular and full-fledged food-provider for your family? Or, will it be an occasional contributor? The most constrictive factor is, of course, the space available. Availability of at least half a day’s sunlight, easy access to water and convenience of draining (particularly for herbs and vegetables) are essential to build an organic garden at home. If it’s a decorative bed, check if it is possible to locate it, so as to be visible from indoors too.
As for the soil, it has to be tested for toxins, especially in urban areas. The soil’s healthy look is often deceptive, more so in areas with an industrial past. Setting out to organically grow vegetables in soil containing lead, mercury, cadmium or zinc could be self-defeating.
A soil test might help
A soil test also reveals mineral deficiencies, if any, besides containing the key to rectify it. Once you’re certain about its suitability, clear the area completely of weeds, grass, gravel, rocks, existing plants, etc. Next, add organic matter to enrich the soil minus the fertiliser use. Compost is your primary assistant in this task. Make a compost pile using organic material like fallen leaves, grass clippings, kitchen waste among other similar materials.
Avoid meat, flesh, bones, faeces, large quantities of watery fruits or vegetables and cooked food. To add to it, oily or greasy matter to your heap.
They are organic, but spell disease and attract pests. Adding compost, bolsters absorption of the soil’s nutrients, strengthens the root system and more evenly distributes air and water.
Now, choose disease-resistant varieties of seeds or saplings that aren’t genetically-modified. Those from nurseries may have been grown by applying conventional fertilisers and pesticides, traces of which will disappear soon. Though they may show signs of stress in the new chemical-free environment, they’ll eventually settle down.
Spacing without rows curbs weed or fungal growth. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root-ball and at least double the width, for planting. Supply your garden with a three-inch layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture and curb weed-proliferation. Prepare it from hay, chopped leaves or grass clippings. Bark mulch, however, absorbs too much nitrogen and invites termites. Water your plants according to requirements of individual varieties.
De-weeding is important
Eliminate weeds by carefully uprooting them by hand. Also, regular snipping off of weeds’ green portions discourages speedy revival.
When it comes to pests, pick them by hand and kill them. Or, spray them away with water or natural, home-made repellents. The idea should be to create conditions that lure helpful birds and bees.
In addition, remove diseased foliage fallen fruits. Remember, early detection of problems is the key to a healthy organic garden.
So what exactly is an organic garden? It’s a space where you can grow fruits, vegetables and flowers without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Banishing bugs and weeds, fertilising plants — everything is accomplished through practices in harmony with nature rather than challenging it.
Result? Foods that are superior in quality and rich in nutrition as well as economical. And, you needn’t spend on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. They don’t even need much space at home.
A few square feet of sunny space, a window-box or even some containers will suffice. It’s wise to start the experiment on a small scale. A 4’x4’ garden is usually recommended for beginners. Subsequent expansion is an open option. Determine the dimension based on your requirements. Do you want your garden to be a regular and full-fledged food-provider for your family? Or, will it be an occasional contributor? The most constrictive factor is, of course, the space available. Availability of at least half a day’s sunlight, easy access to water and convenience of draining (particularly for herbs and vegetables) are essential to build an organic garden at home. If it’s a decorative bed, check if it is possible to locate it, so as to be visible from indoors too.
As for the soil, it has to be tested for toxins, especially in urban areas. The soil’s healthy look is often deceptive, more so in areas with an industrial past. Setting out to organically grow vegetables in soil containing lead, mercury, cadmium or zinc could be self-defeating.
A soil test might help
A soil test also reveals mineral deficiencies, if any, besides containing the key to rectify it. Once you’re certain about its suitability, clear the area completely of weeds, grass, gravel, rocks, existing plants, etc. Next, add organic matter to enrich the soil minus the fertiliser use. Compost is your primary assistant in this task. Make a compost pile using organic material like fallen leaves, grass clippings, kitchen waste among other similar materials.
Avoid meat, flesh, bones, faeces, large quantities of watery fruits or vegetables and cooked food. To add to it, oily or greasy matter to your heap.
They are organic, but spell disease and attract pests. Adding compost, bolsters absorption of the soil’s nutrients, strengthens the root system and more evenly distributes air and water.
Now, choose disease-resistant varieties of seeds or saplings that aren’t genetically-modified. Those from nurseries may have been grown by applying conventional fertilisers and pesticides, traces of which will disappear soon. Though they may show signs of stress in the new chemical-free environment, they’ll eventually settle down.
Spacing without rows curbs weed or fungal growth. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root-ball and at least double the width, for planting. Supply your garden with a three-inch layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture and curb weed-proliferation. Prepare it from hay, chopped leaves or grass clippings. Bark mulch, however, absorbs too much nitrogen and invites termites. Water your plants according to requirements of individual varieties.
De-weeding is important
Eliminate weeds by carefully uprooting them by hand. Also, regular snipping off of weeds’ green portions discourages speedy revival.
When it comes to pests, pick them by hand and kill them. Or, spray them away with water or natural, home-made repellents. The idea should be to create conditions that lure helpful birds and bees.
In addition, remove diseased foliage fallen fruits. Remember, early detection of problems is the key to a healthy organic garden.
A lofty touch to your house
‘Loft’ for Indians 'is the space below the roof of a house.' But, in the West, they translate into spaces like loft apartments and studios, writes Shazman Shariff
Talk about lofts in an Indian household and what comes to mind is an open space, above cupboards or spaces under the ceilings, meant to store suitcases and other junk. The word ‘loft’ according to architects in India “is the space below the roof of a house”. But, it has different connotations in Western architecture. There it is regarded as more than just a storage area.
The wide-ranging concept of a loft is that of a big open space, with a high ceiling of about at least 17 or more feet, most probably of a building, which is converted into units for residential purpose. It can either be an upper storey or a space under the roof, generally with high ceilings and extra large windows.
The spacious floor is often separated into makeshift rooms with walls. Along with other peculiar features like open kitchens, exposed ducts and pipes in the ceiling, it also has a metal staircase.
In the West, lofts are translated into myriad spaces like loft apartments, loft studios, commercial lofts and loft bedrooms. All these are spaces that make use of huge spaces like an industrial building or commercial space, turned into a residential house with the help of walls, room dividers and partitions. However, in India, many of these concepts like a condominium, are unheard of and usually not compatible with the local culture and architecture.
Best for storage
But the importance of a loft in an Indian house cannot be understated. Till date, its sole purpose remains to be a storage area.
Normally, the distance of loft meant for storage should be seven feet from the floor. Its height can be about three feet.
Ideal spot
While planning the house, one should be sure about where a loft should be located. However, it is advisable to have one in each bedroom.
Mattresses, suitcases, which are useful, but not on the daily basis can really eat away floor space. Therefore stacking them away in lofts creates more space within rooms and gives them a neat and uncluttered look.
In the kitchen
A typical Indian kitchen without a loft would leave one craving for more space.
Lofts in the kitchen are much needed to stash away things, needed on special occasions like jumbo sized pressure cookers, dinner sets and other kitchen utensils, which otherwise give a messy look, if kept openly on the counter or shelves.
Showy shutters
Lofts are usually regarded as plain spaces, but they can be made interesting with experiments while designing them. By deviating from usual choice of bland shutters, which can be sliding or hinged, one can use etched mirrors or brightly painted glass framed in solid wood.
If you think glass is fragile and can get damaged easily, you can also opt for wooden polished shutters with Victorian patterns to lend it a grand look. It looks tasteful to conceal a loft with shutters, otherwise, the piled-up stuff can be an eyesore.
Bedroom loft
The concept can lend an impressive touch to the room. Loft bedrooms, with a ladder leading up to it, are meant to be made in houses with high ceilings of at least 12 feet. The height of a loft bedroom has to be at least five feet high to provide enough head room in the sitting position. It should also have proper lighting arrangement.
Since lofts rooms have low ceiling, a floor mattress would be more suitable.
The decor should be created in such a way that it turns out to be an ideal corner for reading and sleeping.
A fancy railing of not more than one feet in height can be put at the edges to complete its look.
The space below a loft bedroom can be used to build wardrobes. Although a loft bedroom may or may not have a window, but it is advisable to have one for the entry of natural light and fresh air.
Talk about lofts in an Indian household and what comes to mind is an open space, above cupboards or spaces under the ceilings, meant to store suitcases and other junk. The word ‘loft’ according to architects in India “is the space below the roof of a house”. But, it has different connotations in Western architecture. There it is regarded as more than just a storage area.
The wide-ranging concept of a loft is that of a big open space, with a high ceiling of about at least 17 or more feet, most probably of a building, which is converted into units for residential purpose. It can either be an upper storey or a space under the roof, generally with high ceilings and extra large windows.
The spacious floor is often separated into makeshift rooms with walls. Along with other peculiar features like open kitchens, exposed ducts and pipes in the ceiling, it also has a metal staircase.
In the West, lofts are translated into myriad spaces like loft apartments, loft studios, commercial lofts and loft bedrooms. All these are spaces that make use of huge spaces like an industrial building or commercial space, turned into a residential house with the help of walls, room dividers and partitions. However, in India, many of these concepts like a condominium, are unheard of and usually not compatible with the local culture and architecture.
Best for storage
But the importance of a loft in an Indian house cannot be understated. Till date, its sole purpose remains to be a storage area.
Normally, the distance of loft meant for storage should be seven feet from the floor. Its height can be about three feet.
Ideal spot
While planning the house, one should be sure about where a loft should be located. However, it is advisable to have one in each bedroom.
Mattresses, suitcases, which are useful, but not on the daily basis can really eat away floor space. Therefore stacking them away in lofts creates more space within rooms and gives them a neat and uncluttered look.
In the kitchen
A typical Indian kitchen without a loft would leave one craving for more space.
Lofts in the kitchen are much needed to stash away things, needed on special occasions like jumbo sized pressure cookers, dinner sets and other kitchen utensils, which otherwise give a messy look, if kept openly on the counter or shelves.
Showy shutters
Lofts are usually regarded as plain spaces, but they can be made interesting with experiments while designing them. By deviating from usual choice of bland shutters, which can be sliding or hinged, one can use etched mirrors or brightly painted glass framed in solid wood.
If you think glass is fragile and can get damaged easily, you can also opt for wooden polished shutters with Victorian patterns to lend it a grand look. It looks tasteful to conceal a loft with shutters, otherwise, the piled-up stuff can be an eyesore.
Bedroom loft
The concept can lend an impressive touch to the room. Loft bedrooms, with a ladder leading up to it, are meant to be made in houses with high ceilings of at least 12 feet. The height of a loft bedroom has to be at least five feet high to provide enough head room in the sitting position. It should also have proper lighting arrangement.
Since lofts rooms have low ceiling, a floor mattress would be more suitable.
The decor should be created in such a way that it turns out to be an ideal corner for reading and sleeping.
A fancy railing of not more than one feet in height can be put at the edges to complete its look.
The space below a loft bedroom can be used to build wardrobes. Although a loft bedroom may or may not have a window, but it is advisable to have one for the entry of natural light and fresh air.
All for a good deal
The Guardian
With some commentators predicting that the housing market will flatline in 2010, Sandra Haurant offers advice on maximising your chance of a sale.
The outlook for house prices may not be quite as gloomy as it was this time last year, but despite several months of increased activity some commentators are predicting the market will flatline in 2010. It is good news for would-be buyers who are trying to save a deposit for a home, but not so great if you are planning to sell your home. So what can you do to maximise your chance of a sale?
Choose your agent well
You don’t have to sell your home through an estate agent, but if you do, choose carefully. This is always important, but even more so in a slow market where your home is not going to sell itself. Ask friends and neighbours for recommendations, look for agents selling properties similar to your own and ask three or four to come and give you a valuation. Choose someone who is enthusiastic about selling your house, and someone who sees, and will sell, the positives. Find out where your house will be marketed.
Websites should be a given, as should local newspaper property pages. Remember, if you opt for an agent that is part of a chain, your house should also show up on the database in other branches. You will be dealing with the agent on a regular basis, so try to find one with whom you get along. Bear in mind that the valuer may not be the person with whom you have regular contact, so check who this would be and meet or speak to them before you decide.
Haggle over fees
Don’t accept the agent’s first quote without seeing if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Ask if your preferred agent can match the percentage charged by the cheapest agent, or meet in the middle. A fraction of a per cent on a house sale could be worth a substantial amount of money.
Get the price right
It is tempting to go with the highest valuation you receive, but be realistic. Check the prices on similar properties to get an idea of what price to expect. While the national house price indices can give you an idea of market trends, some areas have seen things picking up more than others.
Get organised
Put together a file containing all documents to do with the house. Include all the documentation you have. You will also need to provide proof of identity and of address, so dig out your passport and recent utility bills with names of all owners. Do this in advance and you will be ready to leap into action when an offer comes in.
Taking time to collect together the relevant paperwork may make your seller nervous, and at a time when some still feel cautious about the market it is not a good idea to give them anything to worry about.
Clear the clutter
Prepare for a viewing seriously. Keep rooms tidy, stay on top of the vacuuming and clear dishes from the draining board. The idea is to demonstrate that this is an attractive, functional home. Leaving your stuff lying around may create the impression that there is not enough storage. Again, it is always important to do this, but even more so if there are lots of similar properties on the market.
Improve your home
Don’t gut and redecorate the entire property, but do fix what is obviously damaged. “If there has been a leak and there is some staining, I would say pay the money and repair that. If there are some hairline cracks, fill them in.
A first-time buyer may think there is a serious problem, even though this is not the case,” Cushing, manager at a real estate firm says. If you have been letting your home it could be in need of some serious cosmetic repair.
You don’t need to obsess over depersonalising a home, but if rooms are painted bright colours you should consider a quick coat of neutral paint.
But concentrate on first impressions. Paint the front door, tidy the garden and make the entrance area as welcoming as possible. If you live in a flat, do your best to improve the communal areas. If they look shabby it will appear that the building is not well maintained.
But don’t overspend
Buyers often like to make their mark, so don’t waste your money on trying to second guess what they like.
“Everyone is a budding developer, everyone wants to feel they can add value,” Cushing says. If the kitchen is tired, don’t spend money on replacing it – there is little chance you will make your money back. Don’t replace carpets, but do get them cleaned.
Don’t hover over viewers
A good estate agent will show potential buyers around a property as part of the service, so let them. If you need to be at home, be welcoming but discreet. Keep pets and children out of the way, anything to make viewers feel they are not imposing. “The hardest property to sell is the one where the owners loiter in the background,” Cushing says.
“People feel uncomfortable when the owner is around. They don’t want to talk about the property out loud, and more often than not want to leave too quickly.”
Keep tabs on your agent
A good estate agent will give you feedback after each viewing and be frank about anything you should change. Ask yours to be brutal.
Find out what made buyers choose another property over yours and, where possible, make changes.
Step back, and try again
“If a property is still on the market after a long time, the problem is probably down to the price,” Cushing says.
Give yourself a break, take the house off the market. When you feel ready to take the plunge again get a new batch of agents round to give you a valuation and advice on changes you should make.
Go back on the market with new photos, new marketing text, a new agent and, crucially, a new price.
With some commentators predicting that the housing market will flatline in 2010, Sandra Haurant offers advice on maximising your chance of a sale.
The outlook for house prices may not be quite as gloomy as it was this time last year, but despite several months of increased activity some commentators are predicting the market will flatline in 2010. It is good news for would-be buyers who are trying to save a deposit for a home, but not so great if you are planning to sell your home. So what can you do to maximise your chance of a sale?
Choose your agent well
You don’t have to sell your home through an estate agent, but if you do, choose carefully. This is always important, but even more so in a slow market where your home is not going to sell itself. Ask friends and neighbours for recommendations, look for agents selling properties similar to your own and ask three or four to come and give you a valuation. Choose someone who is enthusiastic about selling your house, and someone who sees, and will sell, the positives. Find out where your house will be marketed.
Websites should be a given, as should local newspaper property pages. Remember, if you opt for an agent that is part of a chain, your house should also show up on the database in other branches. You will be dealing with the agent on a regular basis, so try to find one with whom you get along. Bear in mind that the valuer may not be the person with whom you have regular contact, so check who this would be and meet or speak to them before you decide.
Haggle over fees
Don’t accept the agent’s first quote without seeing if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Ask if your preferred agent can match the percentage charged by the cheapest agent, or meet in the middle. A fraction of a per cent on a house sale could be worth a substantial amount of money.
Get the price right
It is tempting to go with the highest valuation you receive, but be realistic. Check the prices on similar properties to get an idea of what price to expect. While the national house price indices can give you an idea of market trends, some areas have seen things picking up more than others.
Get organised
Put together a file containing all documents to do with the house. Include all the documentation you have. You will also need to provide proof of identity and of address, so dig out your passport and recent utility bills with names of all owners. Do this in advance and you will be ready to leap into action when an offer comes in.
Taking time to collect together the relevant paperwork may make your seller nervous, and at a time when some still feel cautious about the market it is not a good idea to give them anything to worry about.
Clear the clutter
Prepare for a viewing seriously. Keep rooms tidy, stay on top of the vacuuming and clear dishes from the draining board. The idea is to demonstrate that this is an attractive, functional home. Leaving your stuff lying around may create the impression that there is not enough storage. Again, it is always important to do this, but even more so if there are lots of similar properties on the market.
Improve your home
Don’t gut and redecorate the entire property, but do fix what is obviously damaged. “If there has been a leak and there is some staining, I would say pay the money and repair that. If there are some hairline cracks, fill them in.
A first-time buyer may think there is a serious problem, even though this is not the case,” Cushing, manager at a real estate firm says. If you have been letting your home it could be in need of some serious cosmetic repair.
You don’t need to obsess over depersonalising a home, but if rooms are painted bright colours you should consider a quick coat of neutral paint.
But concentrate on first impressions. Paint the front door, tidy the garden and make the entrance area as welcoming as possible. If you live in a flat, do your best to improve the communal areas. If they look shabby it will appear that the building is not well maintained.
But don’t overspend
Buyers often like to make their mark, so don’t waste your money on trying to second guess what they like.
“Everyone is a budding developer, everyone wants to feel they can add value,” Cushing says. If the kitchen is tired, don’t spend money on replacing it – there is little chance you will make your money back. Don’t replace carpets, but do get them cleaned.
Don’t hover over viewers
A good estate agent will show potential buyers around a property as part of the service, so let them. If you need to be at home, be welcoming but discreet. Keep pets and children out of the way, anything to make viewers feel they are not imposing. “The hardest property to sell is the one where the owners loiter in the background,” Cushing says.
“People feel uncomfortable when the owner is around. They don’t want to talk about the property out loud, and more often than not want to leave too quickly.”
Keep tabs on your agent
A good estate agent will give you feedback after each viewing and be frank about anything you should change. Ask yours to be brutal.
Find out what made buyers choose another property over yours and, where possible, make changes.
Step back, and try again
“If a property is still on the market after a long time, the problem is probably down to the price,” Cushing says.
Give yourself a break, take the house off the market. When you feel ready to take the plunge again get a new batch of agents round to give you a valuation and advice on changes you should make.
Go back on the market with new photos, new marketing text, a new agent and, crucially, a new price.
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