How to eliminate rats in an apartment society?

Rats are one of the most destructive pests and they carry diseases which are easily transmitted to humans. Since a rat’s teeth grows continuously throughout its life, it tends to gnaw at everything to avoid having longer teeth which can grow more than its body. In fact studies have proved that rats have teeth and jaws which can destruct even lead!

Rats eat almost everything. They transmit diseases through parasites to humans as well as house pets. They can survive in different climatic conditions and dwell in filthy places.

How to track the rat menace in an apartment society?

A rat menace in an apartment society can be identified by finding the entry points. If you have large number of rats in your community, have an annual maintenance contract with the pest control companies. They will help you get rid of the rat menace and makes your apartment rodent free.

What are the methods to control rats in an apartment society?

 

Rat traps/baits:

These are the traditional methods to get rid of rats. A snap trap is used to lure the rodent through baits like peanuts, coconut, cheese and other eatables. Once the rat is trapped inside a snap trap, it can be left outside in the open or killed easily. Baits and snap traps are available in various shapes and sizes as per the rodent’s size. The snap trap technique is also eco-friendly and does not require any harmful chemicals.  Simple modern techniques like rat glue boards which can be installed to trap the mouse can be used. Although the rat glue boards are quite effective but there should be proper procedures carried out to prevent reinfestation with more than three rat glue boards in different places. Trapping techniques will be effective if traps are left unset so that the rodents get used to their presence. This will let the rat to investigate the trap without fear resulting in an effective capture.

Electronic traps:

This is the contemporary trap for killing rats. This trap kill the rats through a high voltage shock in a closed container without having to view the remains. A light on the trap indicates that a rat is trapped and one can easily dispose the rodent away.  Electronic traps have their own pros and cons that they zap the mice population away quickly better than the mice traps and that they are quite expensive when compared to other traps. However, there are also non electric traps available which should be disposed away with the mice.

Rodenticides:

They are poisonous pesticides used to kill rats.  They are effective for a large number of rodent population but can be quite dangerous for humans. Rodenticides are available in various retail stores.  Unless you have a large number of rat population, do not use rodenticides and instead use rat traps.

Points to remember:

It is mandatory that you read all the instructions before using any pesticides and chemicals to kill rats.

Stridhan property-Dowry law in India

Meaning of the word is absolutely clear. “Stridhan” denotes the sole and exclusive property of a woman which is earned, acquired, obtained and possessed by her in a lawful manner. This includes movable and immovable property.

A woman is totally free to use, enjoy and deal with her stridhan in the way she likes without any interference from any body including her own family members either before or after her marriage. Every woman has exclusive and sole right and authority to sell, gift, charge, mortgage and alienate her stridhan.

What constitutes stridhan and how it is acquired?

Any kind of movable and immovable property such as cash, ornaments, deposits, investments, receivables and immovable property in any form may constitute stridhan. The sources of acquisition of such property may be any, all and combination of the following:-

1. Main and primary source of Stridhan is Gift. It might have been received before her marriage, during marriage and after marriage. The gift may be of immovable or movable property and may be received from parents, in-laws, husband, son(s) & daughter(s), relatives, friends and any body.
2. Property received as her exclusive share during partition of family property.
3. Property received by her as a consideration for any compromise.
4. Property earned and accumulated by service, profession, business etc.
5. Property received in lieu of maintenance.
6. Property purchased from her own stridhan.
7. Property inherited by a woman.

Status of Stridhan vis-à-vis family members:- As said above stridhan is the sole property of a woman. No one else, including her husband, in-laws, parents, children have any right or authority to deal with her property without her consent and permission. The Apex Court has also ruled that if the stridhan of a married woman is in the custody of her husband or in-laws, they would act as trustees only and would return the same when demanded by her.

To avoid any dispute regarding stridhan, The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 has provided that a list of the presents be made at the time of marriage and maintained according to the rules under the Act.

Denial of a woman’s right over her stridhan is a criminal offence under section 405 & 406 of IPC and is punishable with imprisonment up to 3 years.

Things To Consider When You Are Reviewing Homeowner’s Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance is an insurance policy covering the structure of your house as well as the contents of your home. With the real estate boom at its prime in India, Home insurance India has evolved as one of the most enterprising sector in the real estate scenario in India. Home insurance is important as it not only provides you with financial protection against any damage your property might incur but also protects the home owner in the event that their home is damaged or if a person becomes injured. There are a number of factors you should consider when purchasing any product or service.

Know your Home Insurance

Selecting your home insurance can be one of the most important things to ensure your financial independence in the future. Choosing what you need and how much can be confusing. Home insurance or homeowner’s may either cover only physical structure of your home or only the contents of your house. Many people do not carry the right homeowner’s insurance or the correct coverage amount.  When you shop around for the ideal policy, look for a company or agent with whom you can freely discuss your needs. The right representative will help you locate and maintain appropriate insurance. Therefore, before you plan to choose a home insurance, know your insurance and its coverage. Following are some important types of Insurance available for Home or Homeowners.

• Home Insurance for Building: Building Insurance covers the physical structure of your home in case of a disaster, such as an earthquake or hurricane. If you are carrying a mortgage, your lender might insist on this type of coverage so that if you are unable to continue to pay your mortgage, they can still recover the value of your home after the disaster.

• Home Insurance for Content: Content insurance is the insurance policy that covers all movable goods and personal possessions within your home against loss or damage. Usually the contents insurance policy comes along with the home insurance policy though at times it may be sold separately. This insurance is great for tenant, landlord and property owners.

• Guaranteed or Extended Replacement Cost: This protects you from sudden increases in construction costs due to a shortage of building materials after a massive disaster or other unexpected situations. Guaranteed or Extended Replacement Cost offers the highest level of coverage. To ensure you are protected against inflation, you should check to see if your home insurance policy includes extended replacement cost coverage.

• Home Insurance for Title: According to insurance officials and real estate experts, six out of every 10 court cases filed or waiting to be resolved in India relate to property dispute or dispute on property title. The title insurance companies assure that if they miss any information that may result in financial loss, they will undertake the same. Therefore, Title Insurance Policy protects you against loss in the event of a property ownership dispute or defect of Title ownership like defective titles, forgery, frauds in realty transactions.

• Home Insurance for Home Loan: This insurance is not for your home content or building structure but for your home loan. Home loan insurance ensures sum of money towards repayment of your loan in the event of your death, disability or loss of job resulting in loss of income. This ensures that your family or dependents do not have to worry about the loan repayment and your home will be secure.

• Home Insurance for Loss of use: Loss of Use coverage is vital if your home is left damaged so badly that you can no longer live in it. In the event of a disaster that leaves you with no home, this policy allot you temporary home or a specific amount of money to cover bills for hotel stays, meals at restaurants, etc.

The structure of your house, your belongings, your liability to others and your living expenses are some of important things to consider when planning a homeowner’s insurance. When it comes to replacing the home itself, look for extended or guaranteed-replacement-value coverage. Make sure that your apartment owners association has a policy that covers the common areas, and get a copy. The home insurance policy is important for the homeowner as it ultimately gives the home owner a sense of security to protect his family and property against calamities

How to design the perfect room for children?

A kid’s room is a lot like a library. Both places have the potential to stimulate a young mind, to help a kid learn, grow, develop, discover. And when it comes to your children – I believe six is the new sixteen. Children’s’ rooms are a place where you can let your creativity run wild. Forget sending them to their room, give your little ones an area they want to spend time in with our clever ideas for kids’ rooms that wow.

 

 

Thumb rule:

The first design rule with your child’s room decor is to break rules and skip the cartoons – because everyone does cartoons.

Create a space for your little ones which they can truly call their own…which will take their creativity to fanciful flights …where they can conjure up wizards and fairies; superheroes and scientists…and more! 

And of course, when you are unleashing your creative genie, safety has to be your top consideration when shopping for any element.

Top things to consider before creating your children’s room

 

It’s all in the planning!

As with other spaces in your home, I believe that it is a good idea to mentally draw out the space. Plan, so you can size and mark the place – work, play and sleep. Create free space for the children so that they don’t get lost in the clutter. Younger children need more play room, while older children need more lounge and workspace.

Involve your child

As your children begin to show choices, you must pay heed to their opinion and involve them in the decision making process. This stimulates a sense of pride and upkeep of their space. By discussing colors and styles with them, you are developing the child’s taste and discretion. Show them the selection of colours, but keep it simple – do not risk overwhelming them with the choices.

Commonfloor Tip: Kids can change their minds quickly, so it’s best to interpret their wishes loosely or there’s a chance you’ll be left with a fully themed room that’s suddenly no longer their thing.

Keep the design simple

Keep the plan sans frills and incorporate lots of shelving and storage – board games, books, etc. Keep the design fluid – simply because this lets you change the design with your child’s growing needs and interests. Sunita Manocha, Interior designer says, “Design a room that is easy to change around.”

Color the walls:

Children are drawn to bright colors that stimulate their creativity. It’s no longer simply blue for boys and pink for girls when it comes to children’s rooms. Think outside the square and embrace some new not-so-predictable shades. Artist Shilpi Dutta, mother of two says, “If you’re not sure about making such a bold statement, remember a feature wall is a great way to inject some colour into a room while still playing it safe.” Interior Designer, Anahita Bahal, Bengaluru says, “There are great ways to create a beautifully colorful environment. Paint an accent wall or even do custom designs or stripes. With a few hours and a little creativity, you can quickly and easily turn the kids’ room in your home into a magical, youthful escape.”

Look beyond the four walls

Remember it’s not just walls that look all the more stunning with a fresh coat of paint. Raw pine furniture, such as bookcases, slat beds and bedside tables, are an inexpensive alternative to pre-coated furniture, plus they allow you to coordinate your furniture with your walls and the rest of your decor.

(In the picture on left – If the room is tight, choose a high sleeper and pick one with storage space for clothes, homework and toys below.)

Fun-size furniture

Colorful, interesting, eclectic objects tend to spur the imagination. Even if your budget is tight, there are plenty of options available for fun-size furniture.

Kids’ chairs and tables are great additions to help them comfortably color, read books, do crafts and exercise their creativity.

Explore the flea markets and garage sales which commonly offer kids furniture, which can easily be restored.

Let kids help choose the furniture, fabrics and color to give them the feeling that the space is their own and turn the restoration into a fun project.

Dreamland bedding

There are endless bedroom options to suit every style and age, and letting children choose bedding or a quilt cover they love can make their bedtime routine go more smoothly.

Matching pillows can help create a cohesive look, and fun cushions or bright body pillows can help kids sit comfortably on the floor with a book or game. Whether they choose polka dots, bright patterns, cartoon images or solid white, a new design that’s all their own will make bed and nap time something they may actually look forward to. Don’t worry about matching the bedding to other decoration in the room – dreams are fun and unpredictable, so let your child’s preferences lead the way.

Storage:

Crayons and teddy bears and games…the list is endless.

Storing all of your child’s precious belongings can be challenging, especially if the room is small. To avoid the “warzone” look, invest in a few storage options that will improve the look of your child’s room while teaching him to clean up after himself.

Closed cabinets and clear tubs are great for storing stuffed animals, craft items and action figures, while open bookshelves work well for books, games and puzzles.

Open cubby systems are also a good way to teach young children organization skills while keeping their favorite toys easily accessible. Color-coded bins can help keep kids rooms bright and youthful while keeping their things off of the floor.

If there’s a spare wall in your child’s bedroom, it’s worth covering it with one single storage unit that can house everything from clothes to toys – that way, you can keep the rest of the room lightly furnished.

Commonfloor reader, Savitri Jain shares this delightful idea: These generously-sized storage bags are ideal for storing all sorts of kids’ stuff. Their stiff sides ensure that all their – from dressing up clothes to shoes – are kept safely in one place. Each is lined with plastic for easy cleaning and comes with two sturdy handles.

(In this picture – Putting storage beneath the bed makes sense if the room is small – fix matching pieces to the wall above the bed to keep the room neat, too.

Furniture can be used for more than storage – it’s useful for dividing up a shared room, too. For practicality, store shared items such as toys in the central piece and choose drawers that can be pulled at either side.

Unleash the artist in you

A child’s room is a great place to demonstrate the full scope of yours or your child’s creativity. You don’t need to be a trained artist to paint a mural with a fun kids’ theme. Look around at books, magazines and the internet for inspiration and then practise your design on paper until you get it just right.

Wall art

For wall art that is simple and quick, you can’t go past removable stickers or decals for children’s rooms. Because they’re removable you can easily peel them off and reapply them if you put them in the wrong spot; or change them altogether if your child has outgrown his farmyard theme and wants to move onto spaceships. Afterwards, your walls will be left unmarked, with no clean up required.

Reach out to chalkboard paint

Kids seem to have at least one attempt at drawing on the walls, to the horror of their parents. Reach out to paint with high wash ability and scuff resistance. Simply wipe the wall with a damp cloth to remove the offending sketch; or beat your budding Picasso at his or her own game by including a chalkboard section to their wall. If your little one likes working on a large scale you could paint an entire wall or you may prefer to paint smaller chalkboard shapes (such as hearts, stars or balloons) to create a more decorative effect.

Creating Playful corners

It’s always advisable to invest in multifunctional furniture. Have a room to themselves would be ideal – but if you do not have the luxury of space, it might help to dedicate a corner or your kids.

Make it an area with a no holds barred policy. Absolutely no restrictions should apply – this should make them want to hang around the space more often.

If you have a neutral colour palette, then team it with colourful accessories to create a lovely impact.

Keep your children busy with colourful accessories.

If your children share a room

If you are going to have multiple beds, coordinate the bedding or simplify the look entirely with identical bedding. If possible, let children have their own reading lights and personal space in drawers or closets.

Give each child a bulletin board to hang their own prized artwork and school papers.

Find ways to let children express their personality in their room without clashing with their siblings. Buy matching frames and let children choose their own photos or artwork in coordinating colors.

Safety

Ensure that you create a space that is safe, free of glass and metal and especially sharp corners. Bunk beds must have railings. A bed directly underneath a window or against an AC is not safe. Ensure that there are no shelves, ledges or appliances near the bed or where the child plays.

Avoid hanging heavy pictures or mirrors above the bed. Use socket covers to keep plug sockets safe from probing fingers. Avoid open drawers that can be used as a climbing frame. Secure all dangling lamps cords to prevent injury. Ensure that the furniture you buy for this space is safe. Check for quality.

Tips to control roaches the natural way

Cockroach infestations in apartments are seldom a rare sight. Be it a bathroom or a kitchen, the roaches are on a regular prowl for grub day and night. Most of us fear the use of harmful chemicals to kill roaches, as they can have adverse effects on children, pets and even adults. So a natural way to kill them would be more safe. Here is a list of natural proven alternative strategies.

Few important pointers to keep the roaches away:

 

- Always keep your house clean.

- Wipe off the counters and areas in your kitchen.

- Avoid dropping even morsels of grub in your home.

- Always keep the grub tightly closed.

- Keep your sink always dry as roaches love water. Ensure that you do not have any leaks or spills.

- Caulk the roach infested areas regularly.

- Always keep your unwashed dishes in soapy water as roaches detest soap

Go organic with a gecko:

One of the most effective ways to control cockroach infestations is to get a pair of geckos (long tongued lizard). Set them free in your cockroach infested home as geckos are natural cockroach predators who can eradicate the infestation. A gecko in your home can serve you as a cockroach hunter as well as a pet. Geckos can get rid of the cockroach infestation in less than a week.

Mixture of baking soda and sugar:

Since roaches have higher acid content within their stomach, the ingestion of the mixture of baking soda and sugar will create a subsequent reaction resulting in their death.

Non-toxic bait:

Baking soda is one of the effective natural chemical which can kill the roaches. A ball of dough mixed with baking soda, minced onions, sugar, flour and bacon grease to lure the roaches. This bait will help in killing the roaches.

A boric acid mixture:

You can simply spread a layer of boric acid in cockroach infested areas. Once the cockroaches start moving on the acid layered area, the chemical tends to kill them eventually. Boric acid bait can also be made to kill them. Ensure to keep the bait away from pets and children.

Spray with essential oils:

Another method to control cockroaches is to fill bottles with soapy water or oils like Tea tree oil, Rosemary oil and Citronella oil to spray on the roaches. A cockroach sprayed with these mixtures will die of suffocation.

Now generate solar energy from rooftops

 

With the swift advancement of technology, the latest invention is creating solar energy from terrace tops. This is one of the best ideas of space utilisation wherein the terrace of residential and commercial buildings can be used to generate solar power. This Initiative is taken by the government of Gujarat which has aimed to launch two pilot projects in the state capital Gandhinagar.

Each of these projects will generate 5 MW of solar power and have aimed to work towards the extension of this service to five other cities in the coming months. This project in Gandhinagar is the first of its kind in the entire country as it also aims to create a mark for the green energy generation at the household-level.

Gujarat has planned to merge Vadodara, Mehsana, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Surat together to take up the solar rooftop power project with 30MW capacity. These projects are still in the process of functioning and will be taken up by the Gujarat Power Corporation (GPCL).

The concept of Micro generation in Gujarat:

The Gujarat Power Corporation (GPCL) has approached various bidders who can purchase the request for proposal (RFP) documents for these five solar roof-top projects. However, the two pilot projects are being developed under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model in a venture with Azure Sun Energy. Since the initiation of PPP projects, the government had seen a great progress which in turn led the government to set up the roof-top solar project in the other five cities.

How does this project work?

The scheme allows the solar rooftop project developer t o build, finance, own, operate and maintain the solar photovoltaic system units. These will be further connected to the state electricity grid. To create the solar energy on rooftops, the project developers will rent the rooftops of the housing societies along with commercial establishments to launch their solar units. The generated power will then be sold to the state electricity distribution company.

For setting up this project in Gandhinagar, a sum of Rs. 3 per unit for the solar power generated will be paid as green incentive and this has further, moved forward to the terraces of private homes, commercial buildings and government property.

Talking about the mechanics of this project, the photovoltaic modules which consists of an array of the solar cells or the solar panels in the system converts the sunlight directly into the DC power. This is further converted into AC power through an inverter. The project in Gandhinagar uses a special type of inverter which is known as the grid-interactive inverter. However, there is no provision yet to have the power flow into the individual homes and the electrical grid simultaneously. Also for the project in Gandhinagar, the GPCL has imposed a certain restrictions related to the age and the size of the buildings hosting solar power.

For the Gandhinagar pilot project, GPCL had imposed certain restrictions on the age or size of buildings that will host the solar panels. Likewise, buildings applying for the projects should not be aged more than 8-10 years old and the minimum super built up area required is 1,500-2,000 square feet. It is also said that the properties will not be located in a commercial locality of a city or nearby a business district and instead will be situated on an arterial road not less than 40 feet width. Both the project developer and the property owner can take care of the maintenance.

Benefits of the rooftop solar power generation:

A landlord renting out his rooftop for solar power generation will make quite a handsome amount. The scheme lets the owner to earn a green incentive calculated on a per-unit basis of power of the generated solar power which automatically translates the power into direct source which can be paid on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

Partition of HUF property

In the previous article, we discussed What are the rights over property of female in HUF? In this article, we will discuss about the Partition of HUF property under Hindu law.

The Hindu Law defines the HUF (Hindu Undivided Family or Joint Hindu Family) as a family, which consists of males lineally descended from a common ancestor and includes their wives and unmarried daughters. HUF is also recognized under Income and Wealth tax Act, as a separate legal entity and is liable to pay tax, is entitled to deductions and exemptions and to hold/own property (both movable and immovable) in it’s name.

Affairs of HUF are managed by it’s Karta. Hindu law is comprised of two schools of law governing HUF, Dayabhaga and Mitakshara school. Dayabhaga is applicable only in West Bengal and Assam whereas Mitakshara is applicable in rest of India.

Partition of HUF property under Hindu law can be total or partial. In total, partition all the members of HUF cease to be members of the HUF and the entire property of the HUF ceases to be property of HUF. In partial partition some of the willing members get out of the HUF and rest continue to be members. Again, the partial partition may be property specific also when some of the properties are divided among the members and balance continue to be property of the HUF.

Partition of property under Hindu law and under Income tax Act are different on two accounts:-

1. For partition under Hindu law division of the property by metes and bounds is not necessary, but for partition recognized under Income tax Act, division of property by metes and bounds is necessary.

2. Partial partition of HUF property, either property specific or member specific is valid under Hindu law, but under Income tax Act, 1961 it is not recognized.

Partition of HUF property can be done either through family settlement OR through a partition deed. Family settlement does not attract stamp duty and is not required to be registered, but partition deed attracts stamp duty and must be registered. To avoid expenses inherent with “Partition deed” family settlement is preferred, but must be ensured that:-

1. The family settlement is bona fide, for fair and equitable division of property amongst the members and to resolve family disputes.

2. It must be voluntary and without any force, threat, coercion, misrepresentation and fraud.

3. Fair and equitable family settlement, though unstamped and unregistered, is final and binding on the family members.

Home Loan Protection Plan to Protect Your Home Loan

With the upsurge of the real estate sector and the purchase of properties in India, seeking a home loan has become a clichéd aspect. Your home loan is associated with of one of the most imperative assets in your life, i.e. your home. You might have insured most of your assets like your property, automobiles, gadgetsand others, but do you think of insuring your home loan? Taking a home loan is a great concern as you will have to think about your family in the case of untoward incidents.How will they repay the huge amount in your absence which you have taken in the form of a home loan? Will they be capable and accomplish to repay the entire amount?  These are a few things which any loan seeker should think.

Various banks and financial institutions which offer you the complimentary service of home loan insurance along with the home loan you seek. Since the housing finance is rising on a peak, home loan insurance has gained impetus all over. Thus, you will be provided with a cover stating that the responsibility of your loan repayment is on your insurance company in case of permanent disability, critical illness or death. In order to insure your home loan you have to pay a part of amount as the insurance cover policy to secure your home loan. Doing this will save your family in times of peril in your absence.

Getting a home loan protection plan (HLPP) ensures your home loan burden will not be transferred to your family or dependants and they don’t worry that your bank or financial institute takes back the home. Doing this will make it easier for family to possess the property even after the death of the property owner.

After seeking a loan you will have an option of repaying the insurance premium in a lump sum amount in just a single EMI. Meanwhile the bank or the financial institution pays the premium amount to the insurer and later gathers it from the loan seeker along with his monthly instalments.

The benefits of seeking a HLPP are;

• The responsibility of repaying the loan amount is only on you and not on your family.
• In case of any critical illness, permanent disability or death of borrower, the family can still stay under the roof of the house for which home loan is outstanding.
• You can club all the insurance cover charges and pay it at a time along with your monthly instalments.
• Acquiring a home loan will also help you in times of financial crises by keeping your home intact with you and adds an additional security through a loan cosigner. Instances where you lose your job or a financial crunch will not affect your home loan insurance.
• Make sure that you save and take wise financial decision to cover your loan payment. This in turn will make your family secure and will not have a significant impact on them. Home loan insurance will also create a secure feeling amongst your family and saves them from the fear of being driven out of the house.

• You and your family members can seek financial help through the coverage of your home loan in times of sickness or any ailments where there is less income. In case the main bread winner of the family is sick or is unable to work, he/she can benefits from the home loan insurance.
• There are also options wherein you can take the premiums which you have paid for the home loan insurance during the times of tax payment. This will help you pay your tax as well as secure your home loan.

There are an array of home loan insurance policies in the financial market which are provided by companies likeLIC Mortgage Redemption, Aviva Life Shield Platinum, SBI Life Smart Shield, ICICI Pru Home Assure and others. These companies have declining term assurance policies to cover the home loan repayment.

• There are options that you can either opt for a single-premium home loan insurance cover or the one time premium. The payment of the premium depends on the amount of loan, age, health condition and the policy tenure of the loan seeker. Factors like a higher loan amount or a higher age of the loan seeker will result in a higher premium and a flawless medical health report will help the loan seeker to get insurance with a lower premium.

How to Generate Electricity at Your Home?

 

The rapidly depleting fuels and energy sources are creating need of alternate power solutions. Moreover, electricity bills will continue to get more expensive over time. The biggest challenge lies in generating cost effective and eco-friendly solutions.

Here comes green electricity which is produced from sources that does not leave negative impact on the environment. It is always best to reduce dependency on foreign resources which will definitely give a sustainable future. This will not only benefit oneself but will also give rise to eco-friendly environment.

Make your Home a “Self sufficient Home”.

A self sufficient home offers simple and cost effective life. It does take a large amount of dedication and initial investment. People grow their own food, generate their own electricity and raise their own livestock. One can generate power at home by implementing energy-generating technologies such as solar panels, bio-gas and wind turbines.

Electricity Generation at Your Home

The practical and economical sources of electricity generated at farm or home include ‘renewable’ sources such as wind, bio waste and sunlight.

Small wind energy system

Such systems are generally installed at homes, farms and small businesses either to reduce electricity bills or as a source of backup electricity. Generally small wind turbines range between in size from 300 watts to 3KW. An average home can save two months of electricity with a one KW residential wind turbine. The number depends on efficiency of the turbine and on the area and size of house.
Following conditions are essential to install a commercial scale wind energy system :

1. The area must be of minimum one acre and should possess good wind resource.
2. Permission from municipal authority to install wind turbines which should be 250-300 mts away from neighbor’s house.
3. Your electricity bills should be high and should have easy access to utility lines.

Vertical axis wind turbine and Horizontal axis wind turbine are commonly used wind turbines. Small wind turbines are mountable on roof top for domestic applications and it stores power in battery.Wind Energy is Environment friendly,  pollution free energy and it does not emit Green House Gases.

Treating bio waste

Bio-fuels obtained from biological waste can also be used to produce electricity. The gas obtained by decomposing waste is safer, eco-friendly and stinks.
The treatment of domestic organic waste and food results in bio energy which is a renewable source of energy. It is used for producing heat, electricity and transport fuels. The domestic bio waste can be treated hygienically by using bio mechanization technology to produce cooking oil.
For installation purpose, it needs one square meter of space and one to fours hours of time. It will not only reduce tendency to throw waste on roads and public places but will also help in overcoming fuel crisis.
The municipal corporation of Vijayawada has plans to install affordable portable bio gas plants in several compounds like households,apartments and hotels. The capacity of these plants would vary between one kg to thousand kg.

Electricity from Solar Panels

 Rooftop solar power plants
Installing rooftop solar power plants is the best example of space utilization along with producing electricity. It can be set up on the terrace of both residential and commercial buildings to generate solar power.
Rooftop solar power plants are designed to meet the domestic needs of the people who have fear of huge bill. Such people use air conditioners, washing machines water-heaters and other home appliances very frequently. The photovoltaic cells of the panel convert solar energy into direct current.
A battery back up can also be attached to the system for power in night. A landlord renting out his rooftop for solar power generation will get good returns.

Solar Thermal or Solar water heater

The free and natural heat of sun can be utilised to hear water via Solar. Installing a climate friendly hot water system can save your energy bill and saves environment. Such heating systems can be installed on the terrace of individual homes and apartment blocks.(Single or smaller systems). A storage tank is mounted horizontally over the solar collectors on the roof. An electric booster is used to heat water in winters.

Solar lighting for apartment common areas

Even solar panels can be used in for lighting in common areas like staircase,parking space. It will lower down the maintenance cost for the flat-owners’ association. It will also make a big difference in common area as well as to the apartment owner.

 

Some innovative ways to generate electricity

• Bicycle Power: The bicycle powered generator can be used to generate electricity. The idea is not new and is widely used in many countries. In 2012, Mysore palace (India)was lightened up for an hour with 10 bicycles pedaled for 10 hours.
• Dance Power: Extra power can be generated by using high-energy environment of the dance party. Dance floor generators are installed for this purpose. It will generate power for the lights and sound system.

Products and Services offered by vendors

Many vendors provide service to different kinds of solar and wind systems such as solar pool heat exchanger, DC solar pump, solar one solar lightning, solar water heater, uni solar laminate, solar hot water tubes and many more.
Along with wide range of products they offer services like consulting, design of renewable energy systems, installation, commissioning etc.

Prevention of Termites in your Home

Are you frustrated with your house being eaten away by termites?  If yes, then read further and get to know some interesting facts about these wood eating insects. Termites are nothing but wood destroying insects which will eat away your home and building. Usually termites are considered as white ants. But the truth is termites are nearer to the cockroach family.

Termites’ mainly feed on Wood.  Their food also includes wood products, grass, tree barks and any material containing cellulose. Termites need protein and carbohydrates in their food, and this is obviously provided by the decayed wood. Termites love to live in complete darkness and it is not easy to find termites and you may see them after most of the damages are done.

Termites are the biggest disaster for wood based buildings. Even People who do not live in wooden houses also face termites’ problem. Guess how. Since Termites are fond of Wood, they eat away the furniture at home. So, wherever we are, in whichever country we live, termite infestation is possible.

So how to prevent this termite infestation

• Keep your home under check.  Though we check our home for infestations, only a professional can give assurance. Every home and building needs a professional check for the infestations at least once in a year.
• Termites cannot live without moisture. Like other creatures, they depend on water for survival. So do not leave any sort of moisture in your building. The broken pipes and other moist areas provide them a perfect environment to grow.
• Ensure that the attic and other isolated areas are clean and dry without moisture. And good ventilation does not favor the termites easily.
• No more holes or cracks in the building. This provides them an easy way to enter the building and eat away your place. So, repair all the cracks and gaps in the building.
• Soil and wood are highly important for the termites for migrating into a building. Reduce the contact between soil and wood. No more old wooden logs in your garden and attic.
• Have some space between your garden and home. Thick bushes close to your house are easy targets for these creatures.

Signs of termites in your home

• When you tap the wood, if it sounds hollow, there is a possibility that the termites would have eaten away the wood from inside. The reason is usually termites prefer darker places which are not easily seen by us.
• Mud tubes on the wall and other surface, which is clearly seen by human. The purpose of these mud tubes is protection and also to maintain the temperature suitable for them.
• If a building is infested by termites, audible noise is can be heard particularly in the night time.  This is caused by the termites giving signal to the other termites in the colony
• Small big mounts can be found in many places like stairs, walls, windows and doors.

If you find any of the above symptoms in your place, it is high time to take the following steps.

• Contact a professional Pest Control Company who is licensed to do anti termite treatment.
• Get your house inspected for termite infestations with most modern equipments like Termatrac T3i.
• Adopt a warranted Termite treatment for your house/property if infested as a curative method and if not infested as a preventive method.

How to prevent mold in your home?

A mold is a kind of fungus in which the nature break organic matter down so new life can emerge. It can grow in any place such as on carpet, clothing, food, paper, backside of drywall, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles. Moisture is the main reason behind the mold. It cannot be destroyed, but it can be prevented. Following are some of the ways in which mold can be prevented from growing in your home.

Prevent Moisture to Prevent Mold
Moisture is the main food for mold to grow. Therefore, always try to avoid moisture in your home.

Prevent Water Leaks to Prevent Mold
Many things of which water leakage is one of them that causes moisture in the home. Leaking roofs or walls, leaking pipes and leaking taps or a leaking shower lead to growth of mold in your home. So always, fix the leakages immediately to prevent the mold.

Prevent Condensation to Prevent Mold
You can prevent mold by preventing the formation of condensation on metal pipes, concrete walls, water tanks, and windows. When water vapor in the air-cools and becomes liquid, condensation is formed which causes moisture leading to mold. You can prevent the formation of condensation by keeping the rooms at warmer temperature or keeping the humidity low.

Prevent Mold by increasing airflow in your home
The one best way to prevent mold is to keep the humidity in rooms at lower levels. The humidity in rooms can be lowered through ventilation. When it is hot outside always open the windows, as the humidity will be lower outside. When it is raining always, close the windows to avoid formation of moisture in the rooms. Another way to reduce humidity especially in the kitchen and bathroom is to use exhaust fans.

Prevent Mold by drying your clothes
Another way to prevent the formation of mold is to dry your clothes immediately after washing it. Wet clothes will cause moisture if left for a long time. So always, dry your clothes outside on a clothesline or in clothes dryer inside your home. However, make sure that in either case the room where you are drying your clothes is well ventilated.

Prevent Mold by keeping mold off household plants
The household plants are beautiful and help to keep your indoor air clean. When you give water to the houseplants always try to add a bit of Taheebo tea, which is a medicinal tea with anti-fungal properties, to the water to prevent mold growth in the plant soil.

Thus, mold cannot be destroyed, but it can be prevented by the above-mentioned ways to some extend.

Solar Home Solutions

The ever increasing energy cost is pushing mankind in trouble. It is the time to go “Solar” and live a sustained life along with vast environmental benefits. Solar energy is massively distributed offering wide variety of solar solutions to small households to big industries. It offers state of art solutions which lower down electricity costs significantly.
Some solar solutions for homes are as follows:

Solar Water Heater

Solar water heaters are designed to use free and natural heat of sun to warm domestic hot water. Widely used in Australia, Austria, China, Cyprus, Greece, India, Israel, Japan and Turkey, the heating system involves mounting of a storage tank horizontally just above the solar collectors on the roof. In winters, a gas or electric booster is used to heat the water.Apart from commercial ones, one can also build solar water heating system at small scale level. In this regard, plans are available on the internet.

Benefits
Free and natural hot water
Big savings on energy costs
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Very low maintenance costs

Solar Power Generator

 

Solar powered backup system offers instant, free and continuous supply of electrical power. It can produce up to 1800 watts of household electricity on demand. The sunlight collector along with photo voltaic cell capture large quantity of sunlight which is transformed into electricity.

Benefits
Viable, portable and cheaper
Perfect back up solution in emergency
Maximum power in minimum time
Offer multiple uses
Does not require maintenance and fuel
No noise and fumes

Solar UPS

Available at nominal prices, Solar UPS is ideal for small offices and homes.The battery is charged by solar panels or AC electric connection. The system is available in wide range and can be designed as per customer requirement. It can also be used for PCs in Cyber cafe, computer labs in school, colleges, training institutes, cad centers, etc

Benefits
Economical and maintenance free
Offer multiple uses
Noiseless in operation

Solar Inverter

 

Solar inverter converts variable direct current from solar panel into alternating current. Sometimes batteries are also used. It is available in extensive range suitable for both both residential home to multi megawatt power plant.

Benefits
Saves time
Easy to install
Cost effective
Environment friendly

Roof-top Solar Power Plant

 

Rooftop solar power plants aims to meet the domestic needs of the individuals. It is generally preferred by people who have fear of huge bill i.e who often use air conditioners, water-heaters and washing machines and other home appliances. The photovoltaic cells of the panel convert solar energy into direct current. A battery back up can be connected to the system to supply power in night.

Benefits
Saves time
Easy to install
Cost effective
Environment friendly

Solar Lantern

Solar Lanterns have replaced kerosene lamps with LED or CFL. LED Lanterns are rechargeable and very affordable. While CFL lanterns have inbuilt mobile charge option and have long life.

Benefits
Durable and cost effective
Low maintenance cost
Good back up

Solar Reading Lamp

Solar Ready lamps are wirelss, easy to use and carry. It can be used for multiple purposes. It requires 8-10 hours for charging.

Benefits
Highly durable
Require less maintenance

Solar Toys

Solar games and solar powered educational toys use small solar panels. Such toys are cheaper and engage children in learning.

Benefits
Easy to use and reliable
Increase creativity of the kids
Ensure optimum performance
Solar solutions make life simple and cost effective. Being one of the most environmentally friendly electric generation resources, solar power has wide range of applications. It just require and initial investment which lasts for over 10 years.

FAQs about converting leasehold property to freehold property

The owner of leasehold property in India can enjoy the right to use the property up to a certain period of time but cannot enjoy undisputed, unrestricted and absolute right of the property. Following are some of the important factors or questions you should ask before opting between a leasehold property and a freehold property.

Difference between a Freehold property and a Lease hold property.

Any property is neither a freehold nor leasehold, it is the nature of the rights and authorities enjoyed by a person over a property which makes it freehold or leasehold.

When a person enjoys undisputed, unrestricted and absolute right, title and interest in a property and such right, title and interest in the said property is not time bound then the said property is classified as freehold property. The owner of such property can transfer, sell, gift, convey the same right, title and interest to anybody as and when he / she desires to do so. Not only the land but any construction / structure over the land or anything attached thereto is also the sole property of the owner of a freehold property. Such ownership rights over a freehold property can be enjoyed by the owner forever or till he / she willingly relinquishes his / her rights in favor of any other person. Such relinquishment of ownership rights, title and interest may be either against a valid consideration (Sale) or without any consideration (Gift).

When a person enjoying absolute ownership rights, title and interest over a property authorizes some other person to use and utilize the said property for a predetermined period and purpose against a valid consideration then the person to whom such right and authority is conferred is called “Lessee” and for him the said property is a “Leasehold” property. In this case the ownership rights remain with the original owner who is also called “Lessor”. The lessee acquires only the right to use and utilize the property for the term of the lease and for specified purpose only. So in leasehold property the ownership rights are with the “Lessor” not the “Lessee” and right to use the property is restricted up to a certain period of time (the lease term) and for specified purpose(s) only.

Leasehold vs Freehold property-What ownership one should go for?

Ownership can be of freehold property only. The leasehold is not at all ownership, it is only the right and authority to use and utilize the property for a certain predetermined period and purpose which expires with the expiry of the term of lease. So obviously, if one has the option to choose between two, then he/she should go for freehold property.

For a buyer of immovable property nothing can be better than buying a freehold property. Other types of properties such as Leasehold, mortgaged, under acquisition and / or requisition, charged, under litigation etc. require a lot of attention and formalities and are riddled with apprehensions and uncertainties. Whereas buying of freehold property is absolutely and literally free of all these hassles and the buyer is in a better position to realize his dream, purpose and goal of such investment. This is the reason why a freehold property commands a higher price than all other categories of property.

In case of a leasehold property the ownership is out of the question. It’s a temporary arrangement (unless it’s a Govt. property on long term lease such as 99 years lease) by which the lessee acquires right and authority to use the property for a predetermined and specified period and purpose against a valid and agreed consideration. The ownership remains with the original owner the “Lessor.”

Should you convert the leasehold property to freehold property?

If there is an opportunity certainly yes. Such conversion is possible by outright purchase of the leasehold property from the owner of the same, if he is willing to do so. The option to choose for conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property is with the lessee only because it is he / she for whom the property is leasehold property. For the owner (lessor) the same property is a freehold property which is leased out for a certain period of time and after expiry of the lease term the lessee vacates the same and the owner repossesses it. There is no change in ownership status for the “Lessor.”

From the foregoing, it is quite clear that the need and / or option for conversion are for the lessee only. In a leasehold property, there is a lot of restrictions applicable to the lessee regarding mode of use, period up to which it can be used, maintenance, timely payment of consideration etc. If the lessee can acquire ownership of that property then he / she breaks free of all these restrictions and can utilize the property in his / her own way and will. Therefore, it is always ideal to get the leasehold property converted into freehold at the possible earliest if circumstances permit to do so. However, the willingness of the owner (Lessor) is of paramount importance because until the owner is willing to sell the property the lessee cannot buy that, hence the conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property is the priority of the “Lessee” but dependent upon the “Lessor”.

When is the best time for the conversion?

It depends upon the need and financial capacity to purchase the leasehold property. It also depends upon the willingness of the owner to sell the said property. The need for conversion of a leasehold property to freehold property, which can be done by purchase only, is that of the lessee but the lessor must be willing to part with the said property in favor of the lessee against a valid and agreed consideration. Hence, when the lessee is prepared to purchase the leased property he should immediately approach the owner with offer to buy the property.

If the owner readily agrees it’s fine but if he is unwilling to sell the property or wants improvement in consideration or terms then the matter needs to be dealt with accordingly. In any case, persuasion will have to be continued till the owner is ready to sell. The earlier the better, to avoid any glitch in the materialization of the deal.