bT Square Peg :: News » Interiors

Stairs, Stairs and Only Stairs

vistasp — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:04:56 +0000

Not exactly a name I’d choose for a website, but never mind. The content is wonderful.

Everlasting Bulb

vistasp — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:35:16 +0000

Scientists at a British company, Ceravision, have developed an alternative light bulb which has an energy efficiency of 50% (compared to 5% for incandescents and 15% for fluorescent tubes). As if that’s not enough, this bulb should last for decades and doesn’t contain mercury either. I can’t say I fully understand the technicalities but it involves microwaves being pushed through a hole in a piece of aluminium oxide. In theory this “everlasting bulb” looks like an excellent development but, eventually, it boils down to how many lumens it gives per watt of power consumed.

Go to: Everlasting light via: TreeHugger

GoTo :: Everlasting Bulb

Ye Old Tube-Light – Still Going Strong

vistasp — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:18:33 +0000

I’ve always been interested in LED lighting and, while it is making great strides towards becoming a highly efficient artificial light source, the lowly tube-light is still the least power-hungry domestic lighting source you can find; it just beats its newer counterparts – the compact fluorescents.

And if anyone still thinks incandescent lights aren’t all that bad, the table on this page will dispel the darkness.

Full Report :: Treehugger :: What is the Most Energy Efficient Light Source?

GoTo :: Ye Old Tube-Light – Still Going Strong

Piped Solar Light

vistasp — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:08:09 +0000

Solar pipes are not new but they usually employ fibre optics which makes them cost more than many people are willing to shell out. This system, on the other hand uses highly reflective pipes instead and, if it is anything like it should, technically, be, it might do a lot to reduce our consumption of electricity.

With light pipes, there is no conversion of energy and, therefore, the losses are minimal. One thing to remember, however, is that such a system will not be kind to less than perfect installation – one end of the pipe starts in the roof and you don’t want your light pipe carrying in water as well.

I was naturally looking for a dealer in India to get an idea of cost but – not surprisingly, there are none. Not yet, at least. Anyone out there who wants to be one? Please?

A British company has also got a product that combines a light-pipe with a vent to make something they call Monovent. Interesting.

:: SolaTube :: via: Treehugger

GoTo :: Piped Solar Light

Separating Toilets

vistasp — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:31:25 +0000

This may not be great dinner-table conversation but simply separating urine from excreta can make a huge difference to how we approach the issue of human waste. Wost Man Ecology, a firm run by Swedish farmer Ingvar-Nilsson, makes separating toilets that are now selling all across the world. Essentially, the urine can be directly used as a source of urea while the solid waste composts (and turns into fertiliser) much quicker when it’s dry.

:: via IANS ::

GoTo :: Separating Toilets

Is Bamboo Always a Green Material?

vistasp — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 04:53:14 +0000

As bamboo makes its way into the building industry mainstream, this article questions whether it is always as green as it’s made out to be. We need a neutral body to certify the processes involved in growing and manufacturing bamboo products.

Full Article: Bamboo in Construction: Is the Grass Always Greener?

GoTo :: Is Bamboo Always a Green Material?

Godrej Ties up with Masonite

vistasp — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 10:43:00 +0000

When I read the advertisement in a trade magazine, I was happy to see more competition in the field but, when I headed over to the Godrej site, I found nothing that looked even remotely like this news. A Google search led me to a 404 (page not found) error and it took some hunting to find this news release.

What amazes me is how even such a large (and professionally managed) business conglomerate can’t seem to grasp how important it is to keep a web site in order. And, at the end of it all, the tone of the news sounded like it was meant for in-house consumption – a company magazine maybe? Who the heck cares what the vice president thinks for goodness sake. Tell us about the blooming product and why we should buy it!

Masonite, on the other hand, have a well laid out site and may need to push their partners to do something similar if they want to make any headway in the Indian market. Godrej have their own construction business so maybe they’re importing this just for themselves. That would be an opportunity lost, in my opinion.

GoTo :: Godrej Ties up with Masonite

Smart Glass

vistasp — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 03:06:31 +0000

We all know about Polaroid glass – it’s been around for ages. But this is a new one for me at least and has greater potential because the level of transparency/opacity is controlled by the user and not by ambient light.

SPD smart window is constructed by using two panes of glass separated by a conductive film with suspended, light absorbing, microscopic particles. Microscopic light-absorbing particles are dispersed within a thin film. When no electrical voltage is applied to the film, these particles absorb light, making the glass dark. When voltage is applied, the particles align and allow light to pass through. By simply adjusting the electrical voltage manually or automatically, the amount of light passing through the SPD-glass product can be controlled quickly and precisely.

A competing technology with SPD smart windows is the electrochromic smart window. Electrochromic windows consist of two glass panes with several layers sandwiched in between. It works by passing low-voltage electrical charges across a microscopically-thin coating on the glass surface, activating an electrochromic layer which changes color from clear to dark. The electric current can be activated manually or by sensors which react to light intensity. One advantage of the electrochromic smart window is that it only requires electricity to change its opacity, but not to maintain a particular shade.

Link: Smart Glass

GoTo :: Smart Glass

New Site at Fountain

vistasp — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 14:05:46 +0000

Got a call from a client for whom I’d designed an office exactly 5 years ago. He’s purchased new premises in one of the old buildings near Fountain (Hutatma Chowk) and it has a ceiling that’s 16 feet (5m) high! The space is just a plain old rectangle but the arches on the sides add a lot of interest.

Unfortunately, the previous owners have done some “work” on the old door frames and I doubt I can salvage any of the original look now. There is a long verandah – a little more than 3 feet (1m) wide on the entire Western face – and it has some nice ironwork.

GoTo :: New Site at Fountain

Flop Show

vistasp — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 08:53:10 +0000

I received an invitation to a Trade Show at Bandra-Kurla complex and thought it might be a good idea to take a client and my contractor along since a few things needed to be finalised at a particular interior design site.

I was aghast when they wanted to charge my companions Rs. 100 each to enter. And after all that, it was a terrible, terrible, exhibition. All gloss and absolutely no substance – exactly the kind I can’t stand.

GoTo :: Flop Show