Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

It was day two of the Home and Garden Expo. Those visiting the expo saw new additions to the show this year, as well as deals from vendors.

Here is more on what attendees can expect for the remainder of the show.

The showroom here at the Bayfront Convention Center is full of vendors that are looking forward to helping customers revamp their home for the anticipated warmer weather.

The Bayfront Convention Center is kicking off spring with the Erie Home and Garden Expo.

Visitors at the expo are in the market of preparing their homes for the spring weather.

Weve had a lot of interest in residential man doors and awnings. Everybody knows that we do garage doors so thats something that were looking to expand. Were also looking to get into the window market here in Erie, said Matt Squeglia, Residential Sales Manager at McKean Plyler Entry Systems.

Vendors at the expo also have deals for customers to make their shopping experience easier.

We do offer free design consultations so we can provide an estimate for free at no cost. So even with the cost of gas these days we are providing free estimates, said Dennis Hinkler, General Manager at L.M. Wander and Sons Landscaping Inc.

Were also offering ten percent off residential polyurethane insulated doors, as well as entry doors, said Squeglia.

A new addition that attendees will see this year is the backyard bungalow where one side is an exercise room and the other side over here is a home office.

People love it because theyre like hey this is a great idea I dont have to do this or do that, I can just put one of these in my backyard and make a he shed, or she shed, or something like that, said Mark Concilla, Show Promoter.

For news delivered right to you,subscribe to JET 24/FOX 66/YourErie.coms breaking, daily news & severe weather email lists

The expo continues on March 26 until 8 p.m. and then goes tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Vendors discuss deals during day two of the Erie Home and Garden Expo - YourErie

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Adding more space is the dream of many homeowners and its one with solid benefits. Not only do you get more space but you also get an increase in property value.

Adding a bump-out addition to your house can be a good alternative to building an expensive, full-scale addition. Though small, a bump-out addition is a complex project best left in the hands of a contractor. For many homeowners, its a highly worthwhile project with both personal and material benefits.

When planning a home renovation or remodel, consult and book top-rated Home Improvement contractors on HomeAdvisor.

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A bump-out is a minor addition to a house that increases its total square footage but doesnt reach the scale of a full addition with multiple rooms.

A bump-out can be as small as two or three feet that push out the side of the house, or as large as a single room.

Usually, bump-outs are used in kitchens or bathrooms to accommodate vital elements such as showers, bathtubs, countertops or cooking areas. But bump-outs are sometimes added for other features such as walk-in closets or window seats.

A typical bump-out addition in a bathroom can extend the wall another 12 to 15 square feet. Bathing facilities are then moved to the bump-out, freeing up the rest of the bathroom for the sink, countertop, and open floor space.

Like building an addition, adding a bump-out is an exterior construction project that can be built in all but the most inclement weather.

Though a section of the house will be open for a while, skilled crews can help minimize that amount of time. Plus, they can temporarily cover up the opening.

If you are adding your bump-out during a popular building season, such as the time from spring to fall, you may find yourself competing with other projects in contractors queues.

Ideally, the bump-out addition should be limited to just one room to avoid additional structural considerations. Ground-level bump-outs will be less expensive and easier to build than upper level bump-outs.

Ground-level bump-outs foundations can rest on the ground or they can be cantilevered (PS: A cantilever is any structure that extends horizontally, with no support below.). Upper level bump-outs require additional support from below the bump-out or they may be able to be cantilevered. Cantilevering limits the depth of the bump-out to two or three feet.

Consult with an architect or contractor to create plans for the bump-out.

Be sure to consider how the house will open into the bump-out. Existing doors and windows adjacent to the planned bump-out have headers that may be able to be used to open onto the new area once its finished.

But most homeowners want a large opening, often, one thats the entire width of the bump-out. This involves adding a support beam, likely laminated LVL lumber, to span the entire distance, along with more vertical supports on the sides.

Building permits are required for any work that opens up the side of the house or adds onto the house. Other permits may be required for electrical and plumbing work.

Inside, build a temporary wall of studs near the exterior wall. This wall will act as support for the ceiling, walls and any upper floors when removing sections of the existing exterior wall.

For bump-out additions that rest on the ground, footers and a foundation wall must be built. Soil is dug out by hand or with a small excavator. The depth is dictated by local building code, often to a level below the frost linesometimes, as deep as 36 to 42 inches.

The foundation wall will be built either from concrete blocks or poured concrete. The blocks are stacked and mortared into place. Poured concrete requires wooden forms to first be built. Next, the concrete is poured by a mixer into the forms.

Bump-out additions on upper levelsand even some small ground-level bump-outscan be cantilevered out from the side of the house.

Cantilevers usually cannot extend very far: only a few feet. The size of the joists is one factor that determines a cantilevered bump-outs depththat is, how far out from the house the bump-out can extend.

One rule of thumb is to multiply the width of the joist by a factor of four to determine a cantilevers maximum depth.

For example, a two-by-ten joist has a true width of 9-1/4 inches. Multiplying the width by four produces 37. So, the maximum distance of the cantilever would be 37 inches, or just an inch past 3 feet.

After electrical circuits are shut down, remove drywall and exterior siding, exposing the studs. Temporary plywood sheets may be fitted in place from the outside to cover up the opening at the end of each work day.

Electrical wires that run through exterior walls must be cut and re-routed. Plumbing for kitchen or bathroom sinks, showers or baths must be stubbed out.

With the wall removed, a header of LVL laminated wood or doubled-up two-by-eights should be installed in place of the wall.

Stud walls with windows should be built to the specified height. Many bump-out additions ceilings remain lower than the ceilings of the attached house due to the width of the header.

Joists are added, then a subfloor of 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood is screwed on top of the joists.

Many bump-out additions are small enough that they can be built with a lean-to style roof. This roof begins higher than the opening to the house, then slopes down in one direction toward the exterior.

After sheathing and siding are added, the walls are insulated with spray foam or with fiberglass. Drywall is then installed over the insulation. After the drywall is finished, it is primed and painted.

Floor covering such as tile or resilient flooring is installed, if this is a bathroom bump-out addition. For kitchens, a wider range of flooring can be usedfrom durable materials like tile and vinyl flooring to DIY-friendly laminate flooring or premium engineered hardwood flooring.

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Building a bump-out addition is usually a project that requires a contractor. Though the size of the project is small, relative to full-scale additions, its still a structurally-dependent exterior building project that opens up a side of your house. Most homeowners are not qualified to take on this project.

A bump-out is a unique type of addition. So, carefully review contractors portfolios to make sure that they have previously done this type of work and that clients have been satisfied.

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An outdoor porch completed by Foxcraft Design Group Inc. (Photo: FOXCRAFT Design Group Inc.)

Is it better to remodel or rebuild? There are many factors to consider when looking into these projects. From upgrading appliances to building a new home from the ground up, different projects will work better for different people.

Falls Church City is home to almost 15,000 people according to the 2020 census with an average of three people per household. The area is popular due to its proximity to the Washington D.C. area, public school systems and sense of community. However, living in this area means you sacrifice the size of your home for the other benefits that come with living in the area.

According to Chandler Fox of Foxcraft Design Group and a real estate agent for Sothebys Realty, there are two types of builds spec and custom. Spec building means that a builder will buy a lot without yet having a buyer, speculating that they will be able to sell the house for a profit when the build is complete. Custom building involves building what a customer wants using their money and budget for a home built to their specifications.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, many people found themselves at home and realized they were unhappy with their surroundings or wanted changes. In some cases these were smaller DIY projects done by the homeowners themselves but often times the projects were too large and they needed to outsource.

The older ramblers you see around town are too small for most modern families and they want to expand and have more space. Especially in this Covid world where space at home as taken on a whole new meaning and having one if not two home offices in addition to a screened porch has become more of the norm, said Rob Zimmermann of Zimmermann Homes. A renovation can be less expensive, however, in comparison with new construction you would additionally get a new foundation and water management system, taller ceilings, taller windows and more natural light, more flexibility on the floor plan, and you gain a garage which often can not be added to a rambler due to setbacks. On top of all of these benefits, a new construction home when completed is worth significantly more then the extra $75k you spent to put it there. So from an investment standpoint, you get a great return on the extra money spent to build new vs. a renovation.

Fox stated that the most important thing to consider is cost versus value what renovations are you looking to make in your home versus how much you are looking to spend.

With renovations, projects can be spaced out over a larger period of time and changes can be made as the homeowners have the budget in place. A new build requires more money up front but allows for more to be done at once.

In my experience larger renovations have been happening less over the last ten years as more people are demolishing old smaller homes and building new bigger ones, said Mark Coupard from Coupard Architects and Builders. You reach a point where working with an existing structure is more difficult and expensive than building new. People sometimes push those limits and add on if they really like the home they have and just want more of it, or the house is a special place to them and they dont want to see it destroyed. Clients often decide to build new if the practical renovation options wont provide them with the space, aesthetics or efficiencies they desire. Some houses are begging to be knocked down but if thats not the case it is worth a look. We try to understand what our clients really need in their home and if they value the structure and prioritize quality over quantity, a major renovation can still make sense.

As reported in the News-Press last week, real estate assessments have gone up by 11.42 percent in the City. Higher real estate numbers means more equity in the home and more opportunity to borrow against that and renovate.

If prices have gone up as much as they have, its comforting as a homeowner to know that your house has increased in value. Its frustrating for people who want to buy an existing house because theyve gone up 10 to 20 percent. Its frustrating for people who want to build a new house because lot prices and the construction have both gone up. I would say its good news to existing homeowners and people in the real estate market and its bad news to everybody thats on the outside looking in.

Overall, the most important factors to consider when deciding whether to renovate or build are budget how much money youre looking to spend, and time how long are you willing to spend waiting for the project to be completed.

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The Pros and Cons of Remodeling Vs. Building From Scratch - Falls Church News Press

A 3,000,000 luxury home in Abersoch has been placed on the market, making it the most expensive property on sale in North Wales. The four bedroom house is located on a road called Lon Golff due to its proximity to the golf course which is not far from the beach.

Construction of the state-of-the-art house was completed earlier this year and it is now looking for a new owner who can meet the eye-watering asking price. Estate agents Beresford Adams say the property "has outstanding architectural merit reflecting the highest standards of workmanship of a local builder of high repute."

The high-spec house comes with ground sourced under floor heating, photomatic solar, remote monitored heat exchanger, together with cctv and a built in security alarm system as well as other modern features such as a Tesla charging point. The airy design allows for plenty of natural light across the property's open plan layout.

Read more Pub in the heart of Gwynedd thrives after locals raise almost 500k to save it

A light oak effect tiled flooring runs throughout the interior which features the four spacious bedrooms on the ground floor. Each bedroom has its own luxury en suite shower rooms and fitted wardrobes with the master suite having its own dressing room area. An oak tread contemporary staircase with a glass balustrade leads up to the first floor onto a glass platform/landing area.

The main living/kitchen area is located on this floor which is described in the listing as "the heart of the home". This area leads to a balcony which overlooks the nearby golf course. The house is approached via an electric gate which leads to an oak frame car port. The port forms part of an outbuilding which includes its own shower room.

The property was added to Rightmove on Wednesday, March 23. Based on a 10% deposit and 25 year mortgage, monthly repayments would stand at around 12,525. For more information on this property, visit its Rightmove profile here. Last year most property sales in Gwynedd involved terraced properties which sold for on average 150,548. Detached properties sold for an average price of 327,870, while semi-detached properties fetched 287,951.

Gwynedd, with an overall average price of 235,433, was similar in terms of sold prices to Conwy (232,572) and Anglesey (241,403), but was more expensive than Denbighshire (208,669). The priciest area within Gwynedd was Abersoch (818,842) and the least expensive was Blaenau Ffestiniog (113,618). During the last year, sold prices in Gwynedd were 19% up on the previous year and 26% up on 2019 when the average house price was 186,213.

Elsewhere in Abersoch, a small beach hut went up for sale for a staggering 200,000 last week. The hut has a private deck which, said the agents, afford stunning sea views across to St Tudwals Islands. And despite the absence of running water, drainage or electricity, buyers can be reassured it provides ample storage.

The sum being demanded is 25,000 more than the previous highest asking price for one of Abersochs brightly painted beach huts. The figure of 175,000 was a guide price, and it is not known what fee was eventually agreed. The official record price stands at 160,000 for a bathing hut sold in 2017.

Naturally, the village is popular with second home owners. Earlier this month, tough new measures were announced on second homes in Wales. The measures will see the maximum level of council tax for second homes and long-term empty properties tripled to 300% from April 2023.

The current figure, as it stands, is 100%, which was paid on more than 23,000 properties in Wales last year, according to the Welsh Government. The measures will seek to address the issue of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales, as set out in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

Take a virtual tour of the property via our gallery here

Currently, properties that are available to let for at least 140 days, and that are actually let for at least 70 days, will pay rates rather than council tax. The change will increase these thresholds to being available to let for at least 252 days and actually let for at least 182 days in any 12-month period.

The change is intended to provide a clearer demonstration that the properties concerned are being let regularly as part of genuine holiday accommodation businesses making a substantial contribution to the local economy. Both changes follow a consultation processes including businesses, the tourism industry and local communities, the Welsh Government has said, and are said to represent more steps taken to ensure people can find an affordable home in the place they have grown up.

Could you live in a house like this? Let us know in the comments section.

Read more:
North Wales' most expensive property goes on sale in Abersoch for 3m - North Wales Live

Whether somebody have a small or large home, power washing services for the exterior are essential to maintain a clean and aesthetically pleasing outlook. It will ensure any household has the best aesthetic value to all who enter it as well as increase its overall longevity. Power Washing is the leading solution for most hard to clean surfaces around any home. Have professional technicians dress up the residence with there premium power washing services like at House of Wash in Pennsylvania.

There are different levels of pressure washing techniques that one must be aware of before hiring an exterior cleaner. Some methods are better than others depending on the type of material used to construct the property. House of Wash follows the highest industry standards and use proven methods to give 100 percent satisfactory results. That is why House Wash Pa near Downingtown, PA offers affordable and professional services that will make any home look new again.

When people are looking to hire someone to power wash their home, its important to find a professional company. If one hire inexperienced people, they could risk permanent damage to their property. House Wash PA is proud to be an owner-operator. This ensures the proper execution of power washing services. They use only eco-friendly products that are beneficial both for environment and family, so have fun watching them rinse off the rest of the dirt from the property! Weve already washed many houses by now, but feel free to look at the client reviews! House of Washes key goal is to provide with the best service possible.

They appreciate the interest in there services and hope that this information is helpful to everybody as it will provide a general idea of exactly what they do there at the Power Washing Team. Please take a look around and if there are any questions or perhaps there is any additional information please contact them at [emailprotected] One can find their website at https://www.housewashpa.com/power-washing-in-Downingtown-PA

House of Wash provides washing services for Downingtown-PA and the surrounding areas, therefore all of there technicians are very experienced and can make a house a home in no time. They follow a pre-planned order that was designed to meet the specific needs. They first clean the roof, then the outside walls and finally any concrete driveway or pathway. All surfaces will be cleaned by professionals. Everyone working with a professional can be sure that pros only use approved and reliable equipment and cleaning products. All of it is tested by the EPA to ensure that it is not toxic to anyone. Also professionals at House of Wash in PA will also follow safety protocols and recommendations before starting any exterior house / home cleaning. If one need more information on power washing services in Downingtown-PA, please feel free to reach out to the #1 Voted Top Pressure Washing Company in Pennsylvania.

Media ContactCompany Name: House Wash PAEmail: Send EmailPhone: 484-881-2713Address:85 Brittany Lane City: GlenmooreState: PA 19343Country: United StatesWebsite: https://www.housewashpa.com/

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House Of Wash Voted Top Power Washing in Downingtown-PA - Digital Journal

As the COVID-19 pandemic brought sweeping changes to lifestyles, it also altered an important but seldom thought-of aspect of human existence trash.The pandemic has drastically changed the types and amounts of waste that are being generated in the last two years and will likely continue to do so for the next few years.

For instance, a report in The Science of the Total Environment in November 2021 points out that the waste produced during the mass vaccination drives to curb COVID-19 transmission could have huge environmental effects. India, which initiated one of the worlds largest vaccination drives in January 2021 with 3,000 vaccination centers across the country has generated massive amounts of biowaste from discarded vials. In addition, every step of the vaccination process starting with the bulk production and usage of surgical masks, gloves, syringes, and disinfectants, to the production and storage of vaccines are contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions. Improper disposal of the waste such as masks is also creating toxic plastic wastes.

In India, as elsewhere globally, COVID-19 created surges in the demand and use of single-use plastic products most notably, in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and food and delivery businesses. As a result, the waste produced from these industries has skyrocketed. While the amounts of plastic waste generated by altered consumer patterns during the pandemic are as yet unknown, Indias reported biomedical waste generation increased by 17% over a year (20202021).

Globally, it is estimated that 4.4 to 15.1 million tons of pandemic-related plastic waste was generated as of August 2021, of which roughly 25,000 tons have entered the worlds oceans. A vast majority of this roughly 87% was found to come from hospitals in the form of plastic sheets, gloves, bottles, and syringes. While discarded face masks are the most noticeable, they, along with personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and packaging material account for only 12-13% of the pandemic-related plastic wastes currently polluting the worlds oceans.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India produced 47,200 tons of COVID-19-related biomedical waste between August 2020 and June 2021; these include PPE kits, face masks, gloves, needles, and other medical items contaminated with blood/body fluids. This is over and above the average 600 tons/day of biomedical waste that was being produced in pre-COVID times.

However, Indias waste management sector was and still is not fully prepared for this surge in biomedical waste. In September 2020, Mumbais already beleaguered waste management system was left reeling under a three-fold increase in COVID-related waste generation.

While the situation in Indian cities is not as dire as Wuhans which produced 250 tons of biomedical waste/day during its pandemic peak between February and March 2020 there are rising concerns about missing biomedical waste and underreporting of generated waste.

Despite CPCBs assurance that Indias 198 biomedical waste treatment facilities (incinerators) could handle about 800 tons per day of biomedical waste, a lot of the improperly disposed waste is being spotted in landfills and as litter along roads, beaches, and open dumps near hospitals and crematoriums. In addition to this, PPE kits, masks, face shields, and gloves are often seen in household waste, not only in India, but in several other countries.

According to a report published in October 2021 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the pandemic drove global PPE kit production up by 300%, while the production of medical masks went up by 1,200%. Pre-pandemic India produced no PPE kits; but between March and May 2020, it grew a PPE-production industry capable of producing nearly 450,000 thousand PPE kits/day. A lot of these masks and PPEs are ending up in Indias water bodies. Huge numbers of discarded plastic masks and gloves have been washing up on beaches and are being dredged up from ocean beds. In Assam, alarms over COVID-19 spread were raised when used PPE kits, blood pouches, and other hospital waste that had been openly dumped were seen floating on floodwaters. The CounterMEASURE project an initiative by UNEP and the Government of Japan to tackle riverine and marine plastic litter found that face masks were the most common biomedical waste littered along the Ganges and Mekong rivers in 2021.

For the first time in its 35 years of running the International Coastal Cleanup campaign, the Ocean Conservancy has had to add PPE (including face masks, gloves, and wipes) as a category in its list of beach litter. By late 2020, 94% of all volunteers had found PPE at cleanups in 70 out of 115 participating countries, and more than 62000 PPE items were found in the 1.5 million pounds (0.6 million kgs) of trash collected in beaches worldwide.

Read more: Pollution watchdog releases guidelines to handle COVID-19 waste

But the dramatic appearance of discarded PPE in beach litter is only a part of the huge change in plastic trash flowing into the oceans since the pandemic began. The 2020 coastal cleanups also found unprecedented amounts of single-use food packaging items in the form of plastic cups, plates, grocery bags, and takeaway containers. Plastic food containers and cutlery were also the most-reported trash found in rivers and along shorelines. Takeaway containers were among the three most common types of plastic litter seen in the macro-plastic surveys conducted in 2021 along the Mekong and Ganges.

The rise in plastic food containers in oceans and rivers mirrors the rise in these plastics in municipal wastes. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UK are only a few countries that have reported rising levels of plastic waste (between 20-200%) coming from increased use of food and grocery delivery services during and after the pandemic lockdowns.

Convenience powered single-use plastic consumption even before the pandemic; but concerns over safety and hygiene, especially due to COVID-19 have driven up their use. Shifts in the perception of food safety have also pushed consumers to prefer more packaged products. This was and even now, continues to be the norm in food servicing and delivery sectors.

In India, e-tailers and e-grocery services such as Amazon, Flipkart, BigBasket, and Grofers (now renamed Blinkit) have reported a two-to-threefold increase in order volumes, and overall e-commerce in 20202021 grew by 25%. Local governments in India busy fighting the pandemic had no resources left to enforce bans on single-use plastics such as disposable cups, cutlery, and plastic bags whose usage boomed in the wake of the first lockdown.

Policy rollbacks on the use of plastics have also contributed to this problem. In several countries, including UK, USA, South Korea, and Australia, bans on the use of disposable paper/plastic bags have been lifted or postponed. In India, the Indian governments pledge to eliminate single-use plastic packaging by 2022 has hit a roadblock. This comes from the All-India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) requesting that the deadline be pushed to 2023 to allow the industry to recover from the economic distress of the pandemic.

Its not just waste generation that changed during and after the pandemic. Waste management has also been affected by lockdowns, mainly because there was a disconnect between collecting the waste and processing it, says Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Resource Efficiency (UNEP, Asia Pacific Regional Office) and Project Manager for SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy Advocacy Component.

Indias recycling sector, which is largely informal, was severely impacted by the pandemic and the lockdowns in a series of cascading events.

During lockdowns, waste collection was considered an essential service, but downstream processes like recycling, were not, says Rohini Malur, Communications Manager at Hasiru Dala, a Karnataka-based NGO that works to ensure livelihoods with dignity for waste pickers.

Malur explains that the lockdowns were disastrous for the waste picker community and small recycling businesses because they were barred from doing the work that sustained them. Dry waste collection centers in Bengaluru were receiving waste and segregating it, but couldnt sell to recyclers and cement kilns (that co-process non-recyclable dry waste), which resulted in two issues. One was a space crunch as waste was coming in but not going out, and the other was a loss of steady revenue.

As part of our pandemic-relief work, Hasiru Dala had to arrange for aggregation centers where waste could be sent, because most dry waste collection centers dont have much space but were mandated to remain functional. We also had to arrange for daily wage support for garbage collectors as their pay was intermittent and often delayed, adds Malur.

Adding to these woes were the day-to-day dangers of handling contaminated household waste and facing social stigmas for providing an essential service. During the second wave, as COVID-19 cases rose, and hospitals became full, at-home quarantine and treatment for people with milder cases of COVID-19 became prevalent. This caused medical waste to wind up in household waste, a situation which most waste workers are untrained to handle. Unsurprisingly, many waste pickers and garbage collectors and their families contracted COVID-19. These people were already struggling to make daily wage, and now they had medical bills piling up to add to their burdens, says Malur.

As segregation of dry waste ground to a halt, junk shops shut down, and recycling units lay idle, the amount of trash sent to landfills shot up.

The waste management sector, especially recycling, is still struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic. A report by PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) states that in India, less than 10% of plastic recyclers were operating during lockdowns; post-lockdown, although 2070% of these recyclers are functional, they are operating at only 2550% of their full capacity.

India can move forward at an accelerated pace by taking a holistic approach, as a piecemeal approach may not be fruitful. The informal sector must be strengthened, supported, and formalized through policy, funding, and implementation. India could strengthen its waste management road map by incorporating a circular economy approach. For example, the Swachh Bharat Mission focuses on cleanliness with cleanliness drives useful in keeping streets clean; but, a holistic circular economy model to reduce trash proper recycling could work even better, says Memon. Like Japan and South Korea, Indias waste can become a resource. Indian policies could be the flagship in South Asia if they strengthen waste reduction, recycling systems, and adopt a circular economy approach to waste management, he adds.

Recently, the Government of Indias policy think-tank, NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India), published a report titled Waste-wise Cities, in which successful attempts at managing different types of waste have been highlighted. Leh has been lauded for its technology-led use of solar power to process municipal solid waste. Several cities including Thiruvananthapuram have been upheld as models demonstrating the sustainability of decentralized waste management systems. Many cities including Panaji have been highlighted for their achievement of 100% waste segregation at source which lay at the heart of their ability to manage waste and generate income through composting, recycling, and production of refuse-derived fuels.

Banner image: A discarded mask found along the Mumbai coastline. Photo by Prasant Barik, Aahwahan Foundation.

Excerpt from:
COVID-19 and the changing nature of waste - Mongabay-India

As the right to repair movement gathers pace, Koreas LG has decided to make sure that its whitegoods can be upgraded.

The company today announced a scheme called Evolving Appliances For You.

The plan is sketchy: LG has outlined a scenario in which a customer who moves to a locale with climate markedly different to their previous home could use LGs ThingQ app to upgrade their clothes dryer with new software that makes the appliance better suited to prevailing conditions and to the kind of fabrics youd wear in a hotter or colder climes. The drier could also get new hardware to handle its new location. An image distributed by LG shows off the ability to change the tune a dryer plays after it finishes a load.

Another scenario suggests adding a filter to an air purifier, so it performs well if you acquire a pet. To get the best from the special purpose hardware, LG suggests also adding a new software program to the gadget to make the best use of the physical filter.

We want customers to experience the feeling of getting a new washer or refrigerator throughout the entire lifecycle of an LG appliance, not just the first time they bring the item home, said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company.

Ending planned obsolescence is another ambition.

Just how this will all work was not explained, but more info has been promised for followers of LG Appliances Instagram account.

Hopefully Insta users get more than lifestyle shots because there is obvious security risk if evildoers upload something nasty into an appliance. Thats not The Register being paranoid: in 2017 Check Point Software demonstrated LG account takeovers that allowed remote control a robot vacuum cleaner, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, and air conditioners. As we reported at the time, devices could be switched on and off, settings changed and more.

And as our columnist Mark Pesce has imagined, a compromised connected gas oven could blow up your house.

LG has promised it will announce 20 upgradable appliances during 2022. The Register will try to take one for a spin, because we would like to play with both the security features and if possible see if this stuff can help us to brew better tea.

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LG promises to make home appliance software upgradeable to take on new tasks - The Register

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Las Vegas mobile homes in high demand as property values, rent continue to soar - FOX5 Las Vegas

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) For the last few years, Franklin and VyTeshia Badger focused on inflatables.

Their Jump Jump Around Rentals business brought bounce houses to homes.

Then VyTeshias younger brother had a birthday party on a gaming trailer, and it turned into a game-changer for the couple.

Were like we can do this. So we put our heads together and started to search for the bus, VyTeshia said.

Six months later, they created the Level Up mobile arcade.

We wanted to make sure we cater toall ages, all types of gamer. So we got a large variety. We have a PS5, which is really like a hot commodity right now, Franklin said.,

COVID has made people more cautious and helped this business succeed.

It actually has been really good for us.People have wanted that safety that they know that the equipment is sanitized. A lot of trampoline parks, you dont know how often things are sanitized. But we sanitize right on site, Franklin said.

Inside the shuttle, you will find several televisions hooked up to gaming systems.

We have several games on the PS5 right now such as Madden, Mortal Kombat, Grand Theft Auto. We have PS4, Xbox, and some of the kids favorite is the Nintendo Switch. They love the Mario Kart and the Super Smash Brothers, Franklin said.

The gaming bus can hold 12 to 14 kids, and it comes with lighting and music.

Youll also find a classic Pac-Man machine onboard and other options for adults to get in on the fun.

We have four TVs in there, so you can actually play just regular cable TV on our TVs. You can watch several games that are going on Sunday night and Monday night, and you and your guys can come on our bus and watch the game and keep up with your fantasy league, Franklin said.

This new level of business will keep the Badgers business rolling all year. But before their game is over, they have next-level plans.

We want to become a household name. We want everyone to know Jump Jump Around and Level Up Arcade, VyTeshia said.

The couple prides themselves on being a one-stop-shop.

You could pretty much call us, and we could handle your entire birthday party.All you have to do is show up and invite your guest, and well show up and bring the party to you, Franklin said. So I think just being able to provide all these necessities for any type of it makes us different makes us stand out.

You can book the arcade bus or get an inflatable at jumpjumparoundrentals.com, or you can call (336) 486-8793.

Read more here:
Greensboro couple creates mobile gaming bus to bring the party to you - WGHP FOX8 Greensboro

Connecticut homeowners insurance overview

There's more to finding the best homeowners insurance in Connecticut than identifying the lowest premium. Here are some other factors worth considering when shopping for a policy in Connecticut:

There are six types of policies designed to cover traditional (non-mobile) homes, from basic policies to coverage with all the bells and whistles. The best homeowners insurance companies offer them all. It pays to look for the level of coverage that best fits whatever would need to be repaired or replaced following damage. For example, a homeowner with a recording studio in the basement may want extra coverage to protect expensive recording equipment.

A cheap policy may be inexpensive only because it provides so little coverage. If a homeowner sleeps better at night knowing they have plenty of coverage, it may be worth paying a slightly higher premium.

A deductible is an amount a homeowner is responsible for paying toward a claim. Let's say a basement leaks, and the total cost of the repair is $7,000. If the policy includes a $1,000 deductible, the homeowner pays the contractors $1,000, and the insurance company covers the remaining $6,000.

One way to land cheap homeowners insurance in Connecticut is to look into all possible policy discounts. Until a homeowner has factored in all available discounts, it's nearly impossible to compare one policy to another. Almost all insurance companies offer home insurance discounts. They include things as basic as the insured being a non-smoker to the house having a newer roof.

Every region is known for a different set of natural disasters. For example, Arkansas has tornadoes, and South Carolina has hurricanes. But natural disasters are not the only reason a Connecticut homeowner might file a claim. Here are some of the top Connecticut home insurance claims:

The only places on the planet that are thunderstorm-free are in the Arctic Ocean near the north pole and in the interior of Antarctica. That means all homeowners in the U.S. must concern themselves with what happens if a thunderstorm damages their home. Wind and hail can wreak havoc on roofs, gutters, siding, and outbuildings.

Whether lightning causes a fire or a fire begins some other way, the fact that fire and lightning are among the top insurance claims underscores the importance of having a policy that fully covers the homeowner's financial investment.

Given that Connecticut is so far north, it's no surprise that one of the most common claims is for water damage. Something as simple as ice piling up on a roof and then melting can cause roof damage and leaks into the interior of a home. In addition, homeowners make claims when appliances leak, pipes burst, and basements take on water.

Most homeowners adore their pups, and can't imagine the family pet biting a visitor. But dogs are animals, and whether it's due to an overprotective or an anxious dog, bites are one of the most common claims made by Connecticut homeowners.

A simple slip and fall can lead to something as easy to fix as a skinned knee. On the other hand, it can lead to serious injury and result in a huge hospital bill. Given that slips and falls are not at all rare, it's important to carry a homeowners insurance policy with enough coverage to deal with the outcome of a slip and fall -- whatever it may be.

The best homeowners insurance in Connecticut provides a high enough level of coverage to take care of whatever peril may befall a home. Looking for homeowners insurance is a matter of comparing coverage options and potential discounts. Here's a bit more about coverage and discount options:

Homeowners with a non-mobile home have a choice of six categories of coverage. These categories are referred to as HO-1 through HO-8. Of the eight, one type covers renters, and another covers mobile homes only. The six remaining policy types range from basic coverage to comprehensive protection. A homeowner can pick up coverage, for instance, for jewelry, precious coins, and artwork. The trick is to match a policy to the needs of a specific homeowner.

Locating cheap homeowners insurance in Connecticut depends, in part, on taking advantage of as many discounts as possible. Each insurer offers a different set of homeowners insurance discounts. Here are some of the most common:

There are any number of reasons a home may be more (or less) expensive to insure. For example, insurance companies look at the crime rate in a city, how near (or far) a house is from a fire station, and the value of other homes in the area. Here are the five cheapest cities in Connecticut for homeowners insurance:

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2022 Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance in Connecticut - Motley Fool