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The Hindu : There’s nothing like a coat of fresh paint to spruce up a drab- looking interior space. In times when “go green” seems to be the mantra in every facet of life, there’s more to consider than just the colour, texture or finish of the paint you would like to opt for.Some of the paints may contain formaldehyde and benzene, which are carcinogenic, while others may have lead, mercury and phthalates, which are human and ecosystem toxins.BenchmarkThe Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has slated 1000 ppm (“parts per million”) as the benchmark for acceptable levels for lead in paints. However, this feature is only optional and manufacturers are not bound by law to adhere to it and provide safe household paints. Lead-based paints have already been banned in many countries across the world.However, as India does not have enforceable limits for lead in paints, it results in less controlled paint products.Conventional paint is composed of a solid portion (resin, fillers, pigments, curing agents and performance additives) and a liquid carrier.Most paints are in the range of 25-30 per cent solids and have a carrier content of 70-75 per cent. A carrier may be either a volatile organic solvent or water. If water is used as the carrier, additional components such as ammonia may be used to keep the resin and other additives in suspension.The stink about paintOne of the growing concerns of the paint industry today is the high concentration of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that off-gas during the painting process — and sometimes for months or years afterward.Most of these VOCs come from the synthetic solvents that give it a usable consistency and evaporate after application — the source of that fresh-paint smell.When carriers evaporate during curing, they can leave tiny pinholes that promote corrosion. Volatile organic compounds used as carriers are neurotoxic, carcinogenic and flammable.Handling, transporting and finally disposing them off without causing…More

The Hindu : This is the second part of the interview with Chandrashekar Hariharan, Director, Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd (BCIL), who has spent more than two decades working on the installation of green virtues into brick-and-mortar living. This week we bring details on BCIL’s direct initiatives that have made its projects a living example of sustainable architecture.What are the main principles of BCIL for eco-conscious homes and the success rate for keeping them sustainable? How will all these efforts help in improving water supply and sanitation in the broader perspective?BCIL’s eco-home designs emerge essentially from our fundamental understanding of the physics of water and energy. The linkage to the land and its capacity to carry groundwater and the necessity for using energy for drawing water are inextricable factors which we need to understand sensitively.Urban planners and architects and builders of residential and commercial spaces have to recognise these two basic resources for water and energy in a way that we can reduce creatively the demand for fresh water with technologies that are reliable, safe and capable of improving quality of life.BCIL’s eco-homes seek to address the need for water right from the commencement of a project to the post-occupancy needs of residents. This is easier achieved in an urban setting than in a village landscape because of the continuous availability of power which is necessary for treating water that will then feed nearly 70 per cent of all needs of a city’s people.‘Loop water’The amount of water you need for drinking, bathing or at the kitchen is under 30 per cent. What you need for your flush tanks, washing cars and floors or for your gardens is a chunk that can come out of what we call ‘loop water’ in plans that help you ‘grow your own water.’So, you can see that water supply and sanitation are two faces of the same coin. If there is enough energy…More

The Hindu : For long, economists have held the view that getting the prices right is crucial to the sustainable delivery of piped water to households in urban areas.For the customer, the correct price of water ensures access to clean water and also signals that excess consumption has a penalty and therefore he is dissuaded from over- consumption.For the institution it means the ability to maintain the system for efficient delivery of water as well as to be able to invest for expansion of services.Increasing block tariffMany cities charge for water and include it as part of the property tax. This is a very indirect way of recovering revenue. Others charge a flat rate based on the dimension of the connecting pipe to the household, say, for example Rs. 45 per month for a 3/4inch pipe connection and Rs. 30 a month for a half-inch pipe connection. This too is an arbitrary method of collecting water revenues.There is increasing consensus however that an increasing block tariff makes the most sense. This is what cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad use for their water charges.Bangalore’s domestic tariff for water looks like this:0-8,000 litres — Rs. 6 per kilo litre8,001-25,000 litres — Rs. 9 per kilo litre25,001-50,000 litres — Rs. 15 per kilo litre50,001- 75,000 litres — Rs. 30 per kilo litreThere is a separate charge for non-domestic consumption on an increasing block tariff too and for industrial consumption on a flat basis.These utilities try to provide access to basic water requirement at affordable prices but ask heavier consumers to pay more. The non-domestic and industrial connections actually cross-subsidise the domestic consumers, bringing in an element of social justice.MeteringFor historical reasons and thanks to far-sighted decision makers, Bangalore has had an effective metering system almost since water supply started from Thippagondanahalli reservoir in 1932 and therefore is able to levy an effective volumetric charge. Without metering and a system of…More

The Hindu : Getting on to the roof, sitting on the ceiling, coming down to the floor or getting nestled in green pathways…that’s terracotta tile, the refined clay tile, that is game for all. ‘Earth and baking’ is an ancient industry, but for contemporary sensibilities it is ‘terracotta business’ and the multi-utilitarian resplendent matter is a composition of special refined clay and sand with viscosity and homogeneity, mixed with water and baked athigh temperatures in kilns.Technological breakthroughs have brought in the best of baking procedures and this modest gravel of the earth has helped spin a commerce that caters to roofing (Mangalore tiles), flooring, wall-cladding (even on staircases), slope elevations, pathways, courtyards, landscaping and car parks. The clay is usually sourced from Mangalore, Calicut, Thrissur, Nuzvid and Warangal.More than 70 varieties of terracotta are available for roofing. The clay from Calicut, where the double-groove roof tiles are made, goes through superior kiln formulas and has as minimum as 12 per cent water absorption. The cost of roofing ranges from Rs. 24 to Rs. 30 per sq. ft.The primary roofing has wooden reapers or steel slotted angles wherein the tiles are placed in between. The secondary roofing has a sloped RC roof on which these water-proof tiles are set. If you need them as ornamental designed tiles for your ceiling, make sure your labour and workmanship are from deft hands that handle the same with care.Big listTerracotta uses are many. You can plan an array of tapering sunshades along your open verandah where you can relax with a cuppa. Terracotta is available in the form of perforated bricks; wall bricks; hollow bricks for air circulation; jolly bricks for compounds; and as border tiles and cladding tiles.Putting terracotta roofing tiles over an existing RCC slab is an elite fad. This helps in increasing the durability of concrete. It is better to use them on plastered brick instead of exposed brickwork….More

The Hindu : Needed: icon buildingThe structure should be able to efficiently utilise energyGeku Kuruvilla George“A city should have an icon building by which it would be known and identified with. It should be futuristic, yet merge with the environment. Kerala is yet to have an icon building,” says Geku Kuruvilla George.He will not need an introduction for architects. But for the uninitiated, he is an architect who has left his imprint on design and architecture in 16 countries.“It is for the people to decide whether a building should become iconic. But if a structure is appreciated for its design, 50 per cent of the job is done,” he remarks. “The world of architecture is changing fast. Gone are the days when you had to pore over designs on your drawing board. Technological changes have now made it possible to design buildings that might seem fantastic to the ordinary eye, but have in fact been executed and delivered to clients.”Geku is currently Director, Atkins, U.K., a global design firm with 175 offices worldwide, projects in over 150 countries and employing 17,000 people. Geku was in Thiruvananthapuram the other day, giving a glimpse to architects, former colleagues and the uninitiated of the changing world of global architecture.When he says a building should be futuristic, he means it. Because some of the projects he has been involved in have been nothing but that. These include the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, the tallest seven-star hotel in the world.He was involved in the designs for Incheon city, involving development of an area of 2.25 million sq m, and hotel, leisure and residential projects in Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand and the U.S.Crucial factor“A building should be able to adapt to the environment. The structure of the building should be able to efficiently utilise energy,” says Geku, explaining his concept of architectural designs. International designs address issues such as evacuation, energy use and earthquake compliance….More

The Hindu : Farm experienceDestiny, a new farm stay tucked away in the unspoilt valleys of Avalanche, about 30 kilometres from Ooty, opened its doors this March for the summer vacation. A concept of the Littlearth Group, it gives one an opportunity to connect directly with nature. Spread over 120 acres of land, the farm produces herbs, vegetables and dairy products.There is also horse riding, rock climbing and rappelling, apart from a cross-country nature trek.There are 18 cabin-style rooms, which are divided into blocks which are named after people and characters from the Wild West. Every room has wooden furniture and complete toilets, with the addition of a fireplace in each of the luxury rooms.For more details on Destiny, one could log on towww.littlearth.in or call in at0423-2445322/2447916, 0423-3207000/01 or 0-9443052890….More

The Hindu :  Beat streetKenny Dorham QuintetOriginal Jazz Classics/Universal Music; Rs. 295 (CD)Into a much too brief life (1924-1972), Kenny Dorham packed enough creative activity, as both a composer and a trumpeter, for perceptive fans to remember him by, no matter that he did the bulk of his work under the leadership of others, many of themsuperstars of the jazz firmament. He was 29 when this album, his first as a leader as its “introducing” title implies, was recorded.Supporting Dorham here (who also shows he has a serviceable singing voice to the last two tracks) are Jimmy Heath on tenor and baritone saxophones, Jimmy’s brother Percy on bass, Walter Bishop on piano, and Kenny Clarke on drums. All but Bishop went on to become bigger stars than Dorham, a reflection less of superior talent than of the fickleness of even the jazz market.On this album, everyone emerges with equal credit, but all the others play a more supporting role to Dorham’s trumpet. Its beautiful and warm tone is a highlight, often the only highlight, of all the tracks, and only he contributes solo improvisations to all of them. His improvisation is especially creative on “An Oscar for Oscar”, his own composition, and “Ruby My Dear” (written by Thelonious Monk).Jimmy Heath and Bishop take the bulk of the remaining solos, Heath coming out strong on the tenor sax. A short series of exchanges between Dorham, Jimmy Heath and Clarke after solos by Dorham, Heath and Bishop is a highlight of “An Oscar for Oscar”. At the time, the infancy of LP recording, tracks were still short (three to four minutes long), so 11 pieces are packed into just under 40 minutes. But within these constraints there is enough creativity on offer from Dorham and his band.Miles Davis: At Last! (with the Lighthouse AllStars)Original Jazz Classics/Universal Music; Rs. 295 (CD)Although LP recording was in its infancy in 1953, and recordings…More

The Hindu : Women on the move have never had it easier. It’s because they’ve pooled in all their wisdom about travelling and made it available at Journeywoman.com.With a no-fuss design that’s easy to navigate and clear headings, Journeywoman has a quality that only a few websites in its category have: a distinct character. It’s resourceful, has a sense of humour, is aware of cultural differences and is an altruist at heart.Unlike the average website that simply compiles advice for travellers, this is more than just a storehouse of information. Members are refreshingly candid about their experiences in the ‘Love Stories’ section, talking with ease about cravings for peanut butter in Poland, learning to tango in Buenos Aires and falling in love with a cabin crew member on a flight to Des Moines.There’s practical advice on travel insurance, making your own first aid kit, managing stress and altitude sickness. Safety tips are particularly specific and deal with an assortment of issues such as jogging alone and avoiding groping strangers.The Journeywoman’s Guide to Packing tells you what to put in your suitcase, depending on whether you’re headed to Paris or a tropical rainforest.The article on flight attendants’ pet peeves is a must-read for anyone, male or female, who’s about to board an aircraft. There’s also a neatly classified database on travel books, guides and gifts.Separate sections for women who are older, travelling alone or with small children are packed with contributions from those who pulled off these adventures successfully. Their free newsletter delivers travel tips to your inbox within minutes of registration.It’s a website that’s strongly recommended for anyone who thinks of travel as getting from Place A to Place B. Journeywoman.com has proof that on the contrary, it’s about everything that happens to you along the way….More

The Hindu : Music festivalThe 20-day annual music festival of the Sree Ramaseva Mandali will take off today, with noted singer K.J. Yesudas inaugurating it at 6 p.m. at the Government Junior College, Fort High School Grounds in Chamarajpet. This is the 70th year that the festival is being held as part of the Ramanavami celebrations. Yesudas will present a music concert, 6.45 p.m. onwards. This year’s festival will also feature over the days M. Balamuralikrishna, Kunnakudi. R. Vaidyanathan, Begum Parween Sultana, Kadari Gopalnath, Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan, Neyveli Santhana Gopalan, Bombay Jeyashree, and others. Entry to concerts is by tickets and season passes. For details call: 26604031 or 26704061….More

The Hindu : Be it during his concert, before or after it, tabla maestro Bickram Ghosh comes across as an unfussy and chatty person. He likes to interact with his audiences constantly to ensure they are in the groove, be it through occasional glances, quick comments or that affable smile.Even when he explains his music, he does it without throwing in any overwhelming jargon.In his latest album One, produced by Saregama, Bickram has collaborated with the French jazz group Mezcal Jazz Unit to create a seamless union of European jazz and Indian classical music.He cannot conceal his excitement. “A common friend, who heard my band Rhythmscape perform, suggested that we work with Mezcal for an album.Since they are based in France, we first exchanged CDs to understand each other’s music and then went ahead,” elaborates the musician who recently performed at The Park, along with Mezcal, to promote the album.It was Mezcal’s manager, Elizabeth, who coordinated with Alliance Francaise to bring the band to India for a four-city tour in 2006.“We got together for an artresidency workshop in Kolkata before the tour, and lived together for 10days to understand each other and create music for the album. The biggest issue was the language.”Except for the bass guitarist and composer, Emmanuel, none of the other members could speak English. “And I cannot speak French to save my life, so it was their manager who translated everything,” he adds.It took two years before One was finally launched this month in Kolkata. “Both bands were touring extensively, as a result the editing took time,” reasons Bickram. The album is Bickram’s third in the last three months, and will be followed by another five in the next eight months.Is he mass producing music?He denies it. “I don’t hurry with my music. It is just that I have too many new things to say every time.”Honest music, he says, is never created instinctively….More