Sunday 29 November 2015

Smart buildings for smart cities

Intelligent building systems enable buildings to run efficiently while conserving resources, all at the touch of a button.
Quite like the little computer chip that resides in your car and controls various motor performance functions, today, buildings too are becoming intelligent. The days of building systems employing a host of staff to manage multiple functions like common lighting in stairwells and grounds, water supply pumps, generators, security, amongst others will all become passe.
The building systems of our future will be efficiently run, all by the touch of a computer button. In fact, many new housing townships being built today already have begun to offer this feature to realise greater value for customers.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_%22%D0%A1%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%A0%D0%A2_%D0%A1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8C%22.jpg

Intelligent buildings, greater savings
So, what exactly is the much-touted concept of Intelligent Building Management System or IBMS? IBMS is the very brain of the building ecosystem and its computer-based controls manages and monitors all the building's electrical and mechanical systems. This translates into seamless computer management of ventilation, air conditioning, power, fire, security and lighting systems.
These days, for instance, in large apartment complexes, a lot of resident angst stems from the huge common area variable electricity charges incurred each month. With IBMS, the system and not the manual guard, is responsible for switching on and off the lights in large common areas such as parks, playground, corridors, stairwells, terraces, pool, gym, club and other areas.
The intelligent system has been programmed for natural light changes and for monitoring human movement. Thus, lights switch off automatically when day breaks or when no one is using the gym. This results in light usage efficiency and reduces the common area variables while also conserving energy.
Reduced operational costs
As consumers grow conscious of maintaining a green environment, lowering carbon footprint, the demand for IBMS is growing. Fuelled by a need to also reduce operational costs, the market for IBMS is witnessing exponential growth and some analysts have even pegged it at double digit numbers.
Managing water supply
IBMS is a panacea for cities starved of water. Water paucity haunts many good housing projects and developers have to abandon them in the face of this essential resource shortage. IBMS solves this by regulating the opening and closing of water pipe valves automatically for enabling flow and cut down on water wastages. It also is able to monitor leakages in pipes so that these are fixed and water distribution is equitable.
Greater security
Video surveillance and security alarm systems are run more efficiently through IBMS leading to a greater degree of safety and security for residents in areas where this is available.
Efficient systems
What makes this a perfect solution for smart cities is that the integrated intelligent building management system is a single platform that controls and integrates building management systems into a unified whole over an IP network.
This essentially means that every bit of data point generated within the housing complex and building area can be re-used as action insights to create solutions for improvement in day-to-day functioning.
For example, video surveillance data may show less movement of the cleaning crew in an area on some days prompting the supervisors to check if those are really being cleaned. Without IBMS, this would have become evident only in a monthly routine checks and would have meant resident maintenance charge money being not well spent.
Diagnostic abilities
In addition, the biggest advantage of IBMS lies in its diagnostic abilities. Not only does the lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and security equipment perform better with this system in place, it also lasts longer.
Further, insurance companies tie premium of household insurance policies to the preventive and curative equipment in place. For example, the insurance premium of a mall well-equipped with sprinklers and fire-fighting equipment will have lower premium than a mall where such equipment that reduces risk of fire does not exist. Thus, IBMS-equipped complexes may have lower insurance premium.
Given the many advantages accruing from Intelligent Building Management Systems, it is today the preferred feature to have in most commercial and residential complexes, offices, townships, shopping complexes, etc. Adoption of IBMS makes sense as it helps building systems comply with sustainability, makes them green certifiable, and can enable residents to conserve water and energy, both prized resources.
Source: CREAI NCR

Friday 27 November 2015

Investing the right way in a home

 http://m.c.lnkd.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAEmAAAAJDNlOGQxODc3LWE1NmYtNDlkOS04OGIzLTM2YzY0YWYwNTUyYQ.jpg
Home purchases are driven by both finances and emotions. The first drivers that make the decision are more emotion based like comfort, social standing and environment for children. While these are factors for anyone who is choosing a home for their family, one must remember that the prime factor to consider is the financial one. When you buy a house, it’s a financial investment. You create wealth that appreciates over time and also has the possibility of becoming one that gives additional income. On the surface all these assumptions are correct but one must look deeper in order to understand the investment better.
Property appreciation
Real estate is very inconsistent and properties may not appreciate as expected. The predictability of real estate is similar to the equity markets where anything can happen. Hence a better understanding of location, social infrastructure, future possibilities and builder reputation need to be considered. Clear legal documentation is also important a done must ensure that clear and undisputed deeds are given at the time of purchase.Properties which have all these factors going for them have a better chance of appreciation in the future.
Source: Realty Fact

Thursday 26 November 2015

Housing for All May Boost Economy by 3.5% by 2022: India Ratings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious project 'Housing For All' has the potential to push up the country's economy by 3.5 per cent by 2022 with sectors supplying crucial inputs to the construction industry being the biggest beneficiaries, says India Ratings.

According to the report, sectors like cement, iron and steel, which supply crucial inputs to the construction industry, are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries of the Housing for All (HFA) programme.
Image result for Housing for All May Boost Economy by 3.5% by 2022: India Ratings
The agency estimates the cost of constructing 20 million houses during FY16-FY22 will be around Rs 2,14,286 crore per annum.

"This indicates an increase in the construction sector's gross value added (GVA) by Rs 2,14,286 crore which will increase the size of the Indian economy by 3.5 per cent in FY16. The direct impact is estimated to be 1.52 per cent and indirect impact 1.98 per cent," India Ratings's Chief Economist and Head Public Finance Devendra Pant said.

The central government will provide a grant for slum households to the states, central assistance directly to households and interest subvention. Therefore, the overall fiscal impact is estimated to be 0.16 per cent of GDP in FY16, the report added.

"The construction sector has the highest employment multiplier, and HFA has the potential to increase employment by 1.6 lakh man years annually. The impact will be felt across all states.

However, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal are likely to be the major beneficiaries," he said.

While the cement and steel sectors will get a boost from the project, these sectors may also act as a constraint in realising HFA by 2022 if we assume that there are no other impediments.

Additional annual steel demand, mainly bars and rods, for HFA is estimated to be 24.6 per cent of FY14 production levels.

Similarly, additional cement demand is estimated to be 13.2 per cent of FY15 cement production. Clearly, the incremental steel and cement demand is huge.

Pant, however, noted that there are other execution challenges. "While the programme has been announced, not much has happened on the ground. We expect time overruns in HFA programme to lead to cost overruns," he said.

Besides, the project would also increase the demand for municipal services such as sewage, drinking water, sanitation, solid waste and city transport, among others.

"As such, urban civic infrastructure services are under stress. The burden added by HFA will accentuate the stress as municipal authorities are mostly cash strapped. The way out is to allow municipal authorities to tap the bond market as support from upper tier government in the form of grants will not be enough to bridge their revenue expenditure gap," Pant added.

Source: NDTV

Wednesday 25 November 2015

GST TO PRESENT REALTY WITH REALITY

    The Indian real estate sector is expected to grow and touch $200 billion by 2020. For over last one decade, housing sector itself has had a 5-6 % consistent contribution towards Indian GDP along with being one of the primary contributors towards employment generation. This sector can be broadly classified into four sub-sectors; housing, commercial, hospitality and retail. As the country moves towards urbanisation, this sector’s growth will be well complemented and the demand for housing and commercial divisions is bound to move north. The much awaited Goods and Service Tax (GST) is to be tabled in the upcoming winter session of the parliament commencing from 26th November, 2015 and ending on 23rd December, 2015; and if implemented it can prove to be a real game changer if formed and executed in a planned manner. Apart from GST, Land acquisition bill and real estate bill will be two key bills to look out for.
 http://www.moneycontrol.com/news_image_files/2014/356x200/g/GST_0557_356.jpg
It has been correctly pointed out that a single GST will be the real need of hour in order to create smooth functioning of this sector. “A well-defined GST implemented for the country will bring about a relief for this sector and its customers. Commercial realty players will be hugely benefitted as all the lost Cenvat credit, which is in current regime a cost to commercial developer can be availed if GST is applied in a free flow manner that will also help in reducing costs. A much simplified single tax rate, reduced construction costs and better transparency in the sector will be much welcomed by the developers and its customers”, shares Mr. Mukesh Khurana, MD, Rudra Buildwell.

Tuesday 24 November 2015

UP plans development societies for Noida

To ensure farmers representation in the district, village development society to be developed, the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by UP chief secretary. The village development societies will work as residents welfare association and the development authorities will ensure the development of these villages. The decision is aim to ensure planned development in the villages as well. 

The meeting was attended by GB Nagar district magistrate NP Singh and Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway industrial development authorities chairman Rama Raman. To execute the plan, state government will seek legal opinion too. 
http://content.magicbricks.com/images/uploads/2011/08/noida2.jpg
On explaining the details, three development authorities chairman in GB Nagar, Rama Raman said, "We have planned to catagoriesed the district in two category. First phase will be part of both Noida and Greater Noida villages, where land has been acquired by the development authorities. Village development authotrities will exist in phase one area while under phase two area, we will cover those villages, where land has not been acquired." 

"In phase two area, panchayat polls to be organized. The legal department will workout the ways to organize panchayat polls in these area," he said that the move will help in ensuring planned development in the villages as well.," Raman said. 

"So far villages are witnessing unplanned development with unsafe structures. Thus inviting to any untoward incidents. Keeping the natural disasters like earthquake, we need to prepare our villages to deal the situation. And for that safety structures and development is required," he added. 

TOI had first reported that Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authorities have given two options to the protesting farmers - they can either choose to live outside the jurisdiction of the two authorities, in which case they can hold panchayat polls, or be under their jurisdiction. In case they decide to keep their villages outside the development authorities, the village panchayats will have to depend on funds they receive from the state government. The development authorities will not spend funds to develop the villages. 

It can be recalled that on an average, villages get no more than Rs 10 lakh a year for development from the state budget. Industrial bodies, meanwhile, spend crores of rupees on developing infrastructure in similarly sized areas. Notably, the Allahabad high court had banned panchayat polls in villages within industrial townships while hearing a petition. There are nearly 300 gram panchayats in Gautam Budh Nagar, of which, only 207 are notified. The high court ruled that panchayat polls can't be held in the 207 gram panchayats that have been notified. 

"The authorities are also bound by the high court order. A logical way to resolve the situation would be to form village development society. After banning panchayat polls, the main challenge is to give the villages possibility for public representation. If farmers agree, we'll send a proposal to the government to legally introduce village development societies by notifying them," Raman added. 

"The district authorities and administration had both sought legal opinion in the matter. Under such circumstances, farmers have three options. The first is to challenge the Allahabad HC order in the SC, the second is to get themselves de-notified from the district and the third to create village development societies (on lines of the urban authorities) instead of gram panchayats," said GB Nagar DM NP Singh. 

- The district will be divided into two category. 

- First phase will be part of both Noida and Greater Noida villages, where land has been acquired by the development authorities. 

- Village development authotrities will exist in phase one area while under phase two area, those villages will be covered, where land has not been acquired. 

- Authorities have given two options to the protesting farmers - they can either choose to live outside the jurisdiction of the two authorities, in which case they can hold panchayat polls, or be under their jurisdiction. 

- Keeping out of authorities jurisdiction will be looser option as a villages get no more than Rs 10 lakh a year for development from the state budget. Industrial bodies, meanwhile, spend crores of rupees on developing infrastructure in similarly sized areas.

Source: Magic Bricks