FlippED is an ED Original style wherein two bloggers come together to share their opposing or orthogonal perspectives on an interesting subject.

Public urination is a major problem in India.

Despite being declared illegal, youll still see people urinating in public.

The act of public urination is not only offensive but also gives a bad name to the country in front of foreigners. It is so widespread that it has become a normalized thing in the country as no strictness was ever shown by the authorities over the same.

However, understanding the prevalence of the problem and its consequences, for the first time ever Bruhata Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika (BBMP) has come up with a solution to curb down the stigma of public urination.

BBMP came up with a bizarre solution to stop people from urinating in public.

The Bengaluru authority has put up 5 large mirrors of size 84 feet around the most crowded places in the city. The idea was brainstormed at the Swachh Survekshan 2020 campaign after failed initiatives of painting deities on the wall or writing warning slogans.

When asked about the same, the BBMP Special Commissioner, Randeep said, We want people to see public urination as a taboo, that is the main goal for this initiative. We are also in the process of building more toilets across the city, and necessary plans have been proposed to make urinals free for the people.

If criminalizing the act did not stop One from urinating in public, the embarrassment and the shame followed with the same could probably do.

I dont think that public urination is a thing one needs to get educated upon.

It is a very basic civic sense every citizen of India ought to have. Open defecation in urban or rural areas is one of leading causes of diseases. Thus, its not only about keeping the surroundings clean but also about public health and hygiene.

In a country where women are mistreated for wearing certain kind of clothes or a couple isreprimanded for indulging in an intimate moment in public, its quite ironic that people seem toconsider public urination quite normal.

Despite untiring efforts by authorities like imposing fines, on-spot arrest, creating awareness, etc., all of which seems to have gone in vain as people just know how to get away in such situations, the only way to fight such a mindset is public shaming.

Under the mirror concept, the passers by can see anybody who is urinating in public which would be embarrassing for them and force them to change their habits.

Not only this, these mirrors have a QR code intact which can help one to locate the nearest public toilet.

Surprisingly, Google maps enlists more than 60,000 public toilets in 2,300 locations across India. Most of these toilets go unused as the Indian public is more comfortable in peeing on the walls than in a proper toilet built to relief yourself.

What makes men pee comfortably on the walls is the fact that it is socially acceptable on theupfront. Whereas, I am sure urinating in front of the mirror might make anybody uncomfortable and would compel them to look around for a private space.

Public embarrassment is indeed a big thing for us humans. If criminalizing the act did not stop one from urinating in public, the embarrassment and the shame followed with the same could probably do.

If people had to be just shame-faced in order to prevent them from peeing on the walls, the posters of gods on the walls and the embarrassing captions would have had already stopped people from doing all this.

The logic, as said by the BBMP officials is that this will shame the people who face the wall to urinate, thus preventing them.

Now, while the intention seems pretty noble and innovative too perhaps, it is nevertheless a futile and short-sighted move. The reason is simple: If people had to be just shame-faced in order to prevent them from peeing on the walls, the posters of gods on the walls and the embarrassing captions would have already stopped people from doing all this.

All these moves that aimed to put an end to public urination via shaming people have visibly failed. The fact of the matter is that merely shame-facing of people isnt going to stop them from public-peeing.

This is just like brushing off the dust under the carpet, rather than dealing with the problem at the roots. What is required on the authorities part is to make a sincere effort at educating the people on the evils of public urination and defecation, as well as to not just erect toilets, but to explain their importance and use to people.

Besides, public urination is nothing new and has been an unsolvable menace in India for ages. Insurmountable efforts by the government- the Swachhta Abhiyaan, installing CCTV cameras, pasting posters of gods and goddesses on the walls, fining the perpetrators, writing funnily humiliating captions on the walls none have succeeded in deterring people from staining and stinking the countrys walls.

Fines on the issue should be increased. Plus, merely levying the fines isnt enough. An equally stringent strategy should be devised for their implementation too. The meaning and importance of civic sense needs to be reiterated as well.

As for these mirrors, let us hope that they serve the purpose theyre being put for, and not end up becoming yellowed and stinking with time.

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: Hindustan Times

Find The Bloggers: @ZehraYameena & @Rhetorician_RC

LivED It: Ek Number: A Toilet App That Locates The Nearest Public Susu Place

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BBMP Installing Large Mirrors In Bangalore To Curb Public Urination: Effective Or Dumb Idea? - ED Times

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

Fawzia Rahimi with her 12-day-old baby, Elia Ayoubi. She has been staying at her parents' rather than return to their damp council flat.

When Fawzia Rahimi, 26, first moved to her council unit two years ago she noticed fleas jumping around her baby's face.

"The carpets were full of fleas. It cost us a lot of money to clean the carpets and kill the fleas."

But the fleas were the least of herproblems.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

Akbar Ayoubi with his sons Zacharia Ayoubi, 3, and Elia Ayoubi, who is weeks old, in their uninsulated Christchurch social housing flat.

Rahimi,her husband AkbarAyoubiand now3-year-old son,Zacharia,have lived through three winters in the unit and dreadanother.

READ MORE:* Christchurch's social housing upgrades off to slow start* Christchurch mayor makes replacement social housing a re-election promise* New Christchurch social housing units 10 years away if insulation fast-tracked

Now two-week-old Elia has arrived, they are stressedabout him living in the cold, damp unit.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

Mould around a bedroom window - and this is in summer.

"It's very cold and wet. The floor is so cold it feels like it's wet," Rahimisaid.

Ayoubiearns $18an houras a kitchen handand the family cannot afford to rent privately.

The two-bedroom Linwood unit at Haast Courts is one of 909 social housing units owned by the Christchurch City Counciland managed bytautahiCommunity Housing Trust(OCHT) which are exempted from minimum floor and ceiling insulation standards.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

The kitchen has no extractor fan. When the family moved in there were fleas in the carpet.

Rahimi'sground floor unit has a concrete foundation and walls, witha unit above, making it impossible to retrofit floor or ceiling insulation.

The only heating is an electric Scope fan heater attached to the wall. Using it increases thecondensation.

The kitchen hasno extractor fan.

CHRIS SKELTON/STUFF

Concord Place resident Charlie Betts, 81, is fed up at the lack of maintenance and insulation in his unit, which is owned by the Christchurch City Council and managed by the tautahi Community Housing Trust. (Video first published in July 2019)

Last winter Rahimi, who moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan as a refugee with her family when she was a girl, was prescribed an inhaler for suspected asthma and Zachariawas constantly sick with colds.

Using the stove top or running hot water in the kitchen createda flow of condensation as far as the adjoining living room.

A laundry cupboard in the bathroom was rotten and seemed to be the source of a bad smell.

Eventually a broken pipe from the unit above was identified as the problem and the cupboard was replaced.

That was after months ofRahimiraising it with the tenancy manager, she says.

Condensation had rotted carpet under the windows in both bedrooms when the family arrived.

It was replaced months later.

Clean and dry clothes became mouldy after only a few days in the cupboard.

"I want to move from this house because of my kids. It's a house, it is a roof on top of us but it is not safe for my kids."

The family appliedtoOCHTand the Ministry of Social Development in October 2017 to transfer to a warmer unit, with support from the family GP.

"Please consider either making the house less damp by extraction/heat pump/insulation as required or consider re-housing this family on the grounds of Fawzia's very significant depression which is in part due to the state of her accommodation," Piki Te Ora GP Alison Wooding wrote.

They received no response from OCHT and Housing New Zealand turned them down because they were already in a home. It was up to OCHT to address the unit defects, HNZ said.

OCHTchief executive Cate Kearney said Rahimihad raised two "maintenance issues of note". Concerns about the condition of the carpet in the bedrooms were raised on October 2018 and the carpet was replaced onFebruary 8, 2019.

"The trust is aware that this matter could have been dealt with in a more timely manner and apologise to the tenants for the unfortunate delay."

Rahimi told the tenancy manager about a leaking pipe in the ceiling of her unit on January 16, 2019 and the repair took place the following day, Kearney said.

The trust had no record of an application to transfer to another unit since the family had moved toHaast Courts.

In September, following media attention,the former council voted to loan $10m towards urgent upgrades for the exempted unitsincluding installing heat pumps and ventilation by winter, and adding insulation where possible by the end of the year.

Atthe time, Mayor Lianne Dalziel saidthe state of theunits represented "a failure" by the authority.

However,the timeframe for the heat pump and ventilation work has slipped, and Haast Courts is not in the priority group.

Rahimi said she hoped a heat pump would be installed in her home by winter, but would not be surprised if it did not eventuate.

More here:
Fleas in the carpet, damp and rot: Young family with newborn want out of flat - Stuff.co.nz

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As much more than a hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be avacation experience unlike anything Disney has ever created. The hotel will offer a two-night itinerary where guests become immersed in their own Star Wars story.We are just as anxious as you to see it complete, so we stopped to see whats new since our last update.

As you approach the hotel, it looks kind of drab. But spaceships arent usually pretty. We do expect more trees and greenery planted to camouflage the area.

The first thing youll see when passing by is the Galactic Starcruiser Terminal. There has been a lot of progress on this area, which serves as both the main entrance where guests arrive/unload. (Do note that this is different from where guests will be transported to Batuuvia intergalactic transports.) Workers are getting ready to build out the overhang, and the shape of the entrance is starting to grow.

This is concept art of what the terminal will look when complete. You can already see the geometric pieces in our photos.

Moving further down the hotel, we saw that most of the purple siding we previously reported on is now covered with gray concrete. The rounded metal archway you see is where the intergalactic transports will wait to depart to Batuu. Not much work has been done to this section.

Continuing along, this is where the actual guest cabins (i.e., rooms) are located. Scaffolding still stands, and all the windows have been closed off as expected. Rather than windows, guests will see screens reflecting the galaxy, which will make you feel as if youre really in space.

This makes me a little claustrophobic. But Ive done an inside cabin on the Disney Cruise Line that has the magical porthole screens, so I think I can make it through. But really I wont have to worry about that, as I doubt Ill be able to afford staying here.

Even from further away on a guest road near Disneys Hollywood Studios, you can see the hotels theming in the distance.

The immersive, all-inclusiveStar Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience opens in 2021.

Related

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PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Guest Cabins Fully Enclosed in Preparation for Interior Screen Installation; Latest Work on Arrival Terminal...

Garage door replacement among highest return on investment

REMODELING Magazine released its 33rd annual Cost vs. Value Report that found exterior improvement projects yield the greatest return on investments. In fact, nine of the 10 leading investments were exterior home improvements, with the exception of a minor kitchen remodel. The leading returns were primarily siding, doors or decks.

"As in years past, the national averages for exterior replacements outperformed those of larger discretionary remodeling projects," said Clayton DeKorne, Editor-in-Chief of REMODELING Magazine. "Exterior facade facelifts improve the curb appeal and makes a great first impression as buyers approach the home, that translates to real dollars at the closing table which is why we see such tangible returns on that investment."

According to the 2020 report, the overall cost-to-value ratio stands at 63.7%, down from last year, and well below the decade-high of 71.2% in 2014. As in prior years, there are significant variations in return in different regions. The average regional payback for the 22 projects in the 2020 Cost vs. Value Report ranges from a high of 132% for a garage door replacement in the East South-Central region to a low of 40% for an upscale master suite addition in the same region.

The 2020 report surveyed nearly 1,400 full-time real estate professionals, each with a network of more than 100 consumers, about returns for 22 home improvement projects in more than 100 U.S. markets.

Top Ten Cost vs. Value: National Averages

Rank

Remodeling Project

Job Cost

Value atSale

CostRecouped

1

Manufactured Stone Veneer

$9,357

$8,943

95.6%

2

Garage Door Replacement

$3,695

$3,491

94.5%

3

Mid-range Minor Kitchen Remodel

$23,452

$18,206

77.6%

4

Fiber-Cement Siding Replacement

$17,008

$13,195

77.6%

5

Vinyl Siding Replacement

$14,359

$10,731

74.7%

6

Vinyl Window Replacement

$17,461

$12,761

72.3%

7

Wood Deck Addition

$14,360

$10,355

72.1%

8

Wood Window Replacement

$21,495

$14,804

68.9%

9

Steel Entry Door Replacement

$1,881

$1,294

68.8%

10

Composite Deck Addition

$19,856

$13,257

66.8%

Principle takeaways from the 2020 Report:

To see the geographic cost vs. value averages and get more information on the survey results, visit http://www.costvsvalue.com.

About Hanley Wood

Hanley Wood, represents the housing industrys leading provider of rich data, backed by Zonda and Metrostudy, and the industrys top advisors for residential real estate development and new home construction. With products and services geared for homebuilders, multifamily developers, lenders, and financial institutions, we provide innovative solutions to maximize opportunities in today's real estate development landscape.

Hanley Wood, Meyers Research, Zonda, Metrostudy and the company logo, are trademarks of Meyers Research, LLC and/or its subsidiaries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200121005901/en/

Contacts

Media Contact Alyson AustinEmail: alyson@gaffneyaustin.com Phone: 949-403-0484

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Cost vs. Value Report by Hanley Wood Details 22 of the Most Compelling Remodeling Projects Across the Nation - Yahoo Finance

Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling has decades of experience in executing painting and remodeling projects. The company serves residential and commercial clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It has earned a reputation for professional work and attention to detail.

According to announcements released by Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling and Jesse Campuzano, the company is the first choice for homeowners looking for a painter Arlington, TX. Qualified and experienced painters can paint walls with designs, patterns, and textures. Homeowners and property owners can expect a first-class painting job with cathedral ceilings, cabinets, decks, fences, siding, brick, and other materials and surfaces. Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling handles deck and fence staining, epoxy floor coating, wallpaper removal, and more.

According to sources, the company is preferred by businesses in Arlington, Texas, for commercial painting jobs. It enables businesses to acquire a unique look that they can market to engender a positive perception with their customers. Arlington businesses that include restaurants, hotels, and retailers are assured of quality work delivered in a realistic time-frame and with no hidden pricing. For any home remodeling, including kitchen remodeling, the company ensures that homeowners have to spend the minimum amount of time out of the home. Its expertise in home renovations includes granite installation, bathroom remodeling, cabinet remodeling, flooring installation, and more. The company offers a special one-on-one consultation for its customers so that they understand everything about the scope of the project, opportunities to save, and the time required to get the job done.

For more information, go to https://probrushpainting.net/

Jesse Campuzano of Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling said, When you are considering a new look for your home, our residential painting experts can create a custom look thats both modern and inviting. If you are looking for an experienced painting team that can complete your project quickly, call our professionals to produce a warm, professional atmosphere, fast. Bring your cabinets back to life and make them more beautiful than ever with our expert cabinet refinishing services. When the most used rooms in your home need a facelift, our experts can create a modern, custom style thats sure to impress. Protect and seal your fence and deck while keeping them beautiful with our professional fence and deck staining services. Dont risk your familys well-being. Let our experts handle the popcorn ceiling removal process in your home. Epoxy coatings are the better option for a garage floor, but there are some important things to remember.

Concerning the company's painting services, Campuzano said, We at Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling are the premier commercial painting services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! Our team has over 20 years of experience with home renovation projects, which we will use to help you turn your visions of your business into a reality. Whether you just need a few rooms spruced up, or need an entire building repaint, our team of experts has the tools and skills for the job. Our local painters can paint, stain, or refinish almost any structure on your property, such as sheds, garages, shops, decks, and even wrought iron fencing. Let our painting experts help create your own masterpiece.

Contact and location information are available at Pro Brush Painting and Remodeling

Media ContactCompany Name: Pro Brush Painting and RemodelingContact Person: Jesse CampuzanoEmail: Send EmailPhone: (817) 789-5441Address:617, West Main Street, Suite 617c City: ArlingtonState: TX 76010Country: United StatesWebsite: https://probrushpainting.net/

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Painter Arlington TX Residential and Commercial Remodeling and Painting Services in the DFW Area - Press Release - Digital Journal

Developed with the tagline Grow whatever your heart desires, wherever you are, Sherpa Light is a tunable artificial light source with the potential to replicate the exact sunlight conditions needed to grow any plant from around the world. Using tunable, full-spectrum LEDs, the device was created to emit different lighting intensities depending on the plants cellular structure to optimize growth. Korea-based design studioSherpa Spacedeveloped the Sherpa Light and recently showcased their prototype product at CES 2020, where it was named an honoree of the events Innovation Award.

Sherpa Space was founded to enhance plant growth through technology. The designers say that sunlight falls short of producing the optimal light settings that different plants need at different growth stages. They believe that their artificial lights, which use an adjustable combination of narrow-bandLEDs, are best suited to generating the right light conditions such as intensity, photoperiod, and quality needed to optimize plant health, from growth and flowering to the enhancement of leaf quality and the concentration of desired chemicals in plants.

Much like how a baby first needs breastfeeding and later switches to solid foods, plants also need different lights and nutrition at different growth stages for maximum growth, the designers said in a project statement. For instance, flowering can be promoted in many crops by changing the wavelength given to a plant. Sherpa Spaces unique competitive advantage lies in our ability to convert light wavelengths with minimal energy loss. Using the quantum dot technology, we can provide lights of specific wavelengths optimized not only for each plant but also for each growth stage. As a result, we maximize crops nutrient compositions and productivity.

Related: This self-sustaining planter doesnt require sunlight for plants to thrive

The designers also say that Sherpa Light could be the key to recreating the desired flavor components of certain fruits and vegetables that are typically only enjoyed in the region where theyre grown. For instance, they claim that mangos grown with Sherpa Light in Canada could taste just as good as those in India. There is no word yet of when this product will be made available for sale or testing.

+ Sherpa Space

Images via Sherpa Space and Inhabitat

See the article here:
Sherpa Light for indoor farming wins CES 2020 Innovation Award - Inhabitat

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Silvair.

Bluetooth mesh standard reaches new heights

The Bluetooth mesh lighting control ecosystem continues to grow at an exponential rate. In November, the number of Bluetooth SIG-qualified mesh products available on the market increased to more than 400. That same month, a Bluetooth mesh lighting network was installed inside one of North America's most spectacular structures. Components with the Silvair firmware were used to retrofit the lighting system in the iconic Stratosphere Tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the U.S.

Rising majestically over the Las Vegas skyline, the 1,149 ft Stratosphere Tower is the citys signature attraction. On its 108th floor, there is an indoor observation deck that offers stunning wraparound views of the Las Vegas Valley. It includes food and beverage outlets, and provides plenty of space for visitors. The observation deck itself was remodeled in July 2019. This was followed by a lighting retrofit carried out in November. The owner wanted an easy way to functionally create independent lighting scenes without having to wire in a control system. Bluetooth mesh lighting controls were a perfect match for these requirements.

As part of the retrofit, precisely 100 LED downlights were installed across the space. They were divided into 11 groups, with each group controlled by a Bluetooth SIG-qualified Fulham EliteControl fixture controller. The component provides downlights with robust Bluetooth mesh connectivity and full lighting control capabilities. The system was set up using eliteBlue, Fulhams smartphone app for commissioning, customizing, and monitoring mesh-connected luminaires. High- and low-light scenes were then created for each zone to allow for different mood lighting.

With visitors from all over the world storming the observation deck on a daily basis, it was particularly important to minimize the duration of the retrofit project, and to prevent any serious disruption in the already-remodeled space. Wireless controls powered by Silvair and the Bluetooth mesh standard met these requirements exceptionally well, enabling a quick and clean retrofit with no cables or central control boxes. As a result, the Stratosphere Tower seamlessly upgraded the lighting system to provide its visitors with an even more welcoming and exhilarating experience.

BENEFITS

Non-disruptive installation

Easy commissioning

Lighting scene flexibility

Cost-efficient implementation

Fulham EliteControl fixture controller

A simple, easy-to-install component that connects to an existing 0-10V dimmable luminaire to add the globally standardized Bluetooth mesh connectivity. Fulhams fixture controller is an ideal solution for luminaire makers looking to develop their Bluetooth mesh product lines, or contractors seeking to provide wireless lighting options in the field. Robust wireless control capabilities are provided by the Silvair firmware.

About Silvair

Silvair provides a complete wireless lighting control solution based on the globally interoperable Bluetooth mesh standard. Component manufacturers can easily integrate it into a variety of products, flexibly choosing specific features in accordance with their customers needs. In addition, Silvair provides dedicated tools for commissioning and managing Bluetooth mesh lighting networks in commercial spaces.

SILVAIR

Ms Natalia Haligowska-Rzepa

Phone: +48 503 969 510

natalia.haligowska@silvair.com

http://www.silvair.com

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Stratosphere Tower gets a lighting retrofit - LEDs Magazine

Custom integrators have been selling and designing solutions for the smart home long before that phrase caught on in the mainstream. The question now is, besides creating a smart home for your clients, will you also give them a healthy home?

The trend of biophilic design and home wellness technologies is catching on fast in the custom channel and for those who do commercial work the same concepts are being applied to buildings too and its easy to see why. Sure, things like 4K/8K video and Dolby Atmos home theater have provided a spark for some companies, but they are more evolutionary integration business opportunities.

Getting into biophilia and wellness is something that can fuel a whole new business model for intrepid integrators, an exciting differentiator and one that seems to be resonating right now.

CE Pro has deemed the category important enough to cover happenings in its own Wellscapes news department (see page 12); from what weve read, heard and seen just in the past year, wed be doing the industry a disservice to continue lumping it in with the Networking+Controls department.

If you take a look at this issues coverage, youll note that influential industry groups are embracing this trend in a big way editor Julie Jacobson attended Azione Unlimiteds fall conference in Seattle, where the group highlighted new partnerships with companies such as Pure Wellness and Bryte, on top existing relationships with leading circadian lighting proponents Vantage and Savant (see sidebar Q&A), and color-tunable lighting providers Circa Lighting, Breakthrough Lighting, LumaStream and USAI.

Meanwhile, around the same time as Aziones conference, the HTSA (Home Technology Specialists of America) group held its own fall gathering (see December 2019 issue, page 8) where attendees swelled with excitement around the HTSAs partnership with Delos. The companys DARWIN home wellness intelligence platform was introduced to HTSA members the previous year and since that time about two dozen dealers have gone through a specialized Delos sales and technology training program.

Part of the whole program is about writing the proper prescription for that homeowner, to use the terminology, says Jan Vitrofsky of HEDsouth in Florida, who has worked closely with Anthony Antolino, Delos head of residential business and CMO who came on board in September 2018.

Its about controlling the narrative when you meet with a client. You want to know what the coolest thing is in technology, its not streaming music, its not AppleTV its about how you live longer and live a better quality of life. Would you be interested in that?

Vitrofsky recalls working on a project with a builder who had connections to Delos as it was getting started with its residential business model commercial buildings and hospitality came before that for the company, whose research led to its launch of the WELL Building Standard in 2014 before expanding into residential in 2018. The builder asked Vitrofsky if he knew about circadian rhythm lighting.

I was like, Are you serious? I dont know anything about it. He said, Google it, find out about it. We need to introduce you to these guys its the next hot thing. So I did my homework, went out to California, which is the hotbed of wellness and spirituality and everything sustainable, and saw this big movement of what was going on in the luxury segment of the marketplace associated with wellness, Vitrofsky says. I thought, wow we need to bring this to the system integration channel.

And speaking of California, Vitrofsky teams with Southern California-based electrical and lighting/shading specialists Ofer Abutbul (Powerfull Electric) and Shalom Illouz (Powerfull Systems), and has an HEDsocal office to cater to that hot wellness market. The companys website touts wellness solutions and educates on the healthy homes key features such as indoor air quality, water quality and circadian rhythm/body clock influences like lighting and temperature. Besides Delos, the integrator offers brands such as Savant, Crestron, Lutron/Ketra, USAI and Apure.

Shortly after the Azione and HTSA conferences shed further light on wellness and biophilic solutions, the topic was again in the spotlight as part of the CE Pro Summit held in November in Fort Worth, Texas. Just like the Azione and HTSA groups, many of the countrys top integrators were gathered and learned about how the category was impacting the channel.

Like HEDsouth and HEDsocal, integrator Don Ham has created a business model around the healthy home ecosystem and biophilic design, and he talked about it during the Summit. When you look at biophilia, such systems incorporate air and water quality and circadian, or human-centric, lighting, but also seek to create more of a connection to the environment and nature since we spend so much of our time indoors. Based in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., in Westchester County outside of New York City, Refresh Smart Home does all of the above, including things like integrating organic scents (flowers, leaves, earth, grass, herbs, fruits) and soundscaping (nature sounds).

Pretty much the concept is because we spend over 90% of our time indoors, a lot of it in an artificial setting we try to change that now for example, lights with human-centric lighting. Also fragrances we light candles but a lot of people dont know what thats doing to us when we inhale, and also colognes and perfumes in reality 30% of the 2,000 constituents of the chemical makeup are actually known carcinogens, Ham explains about some of the harm people are doing indoors and not even realizing it.

Its a great opportunity to educate people. We want to be able to educate and offer people ways in which they can optimize their homes or their offices for their health and the health of their families.

Ham notes that understanding of the category certainly took some time for prospective customers. Refresh Smart Home started making inroads several years ago, but activity and traction has noticeably picked up more recently.

Just to touch on a bit of the evolution over the last five years, when we first started to talk to our clients about the healthy home, people just didnt get it. They would just say, Thank you for the information, and there wouldnt be a lot of traction, Ham says. But about two years ago was really when we started seeing things pick up.

He cited greater awareness overall thanks to more coverage in the media and more widespread research about related topics.

As more people read the research data, that statistics that show the effects of these things, their starting to think about, Well, what about my built-in environment? And thats really whats been able to open up the conversation a lot more, he says.

He pointed to some of the research, such as an Eco Pulse 2018 study in which owners listed making my home healthier/safer as one of the top two responses for priorities on spending money on my home, and 68% believe their house has a strong impact on their health.

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Top Tech Trends of 2020: Wellness and Biophilia - CEPRO - CEPro

Circadian rhythms impact many bodily functions, including sleep-wake cycles, hormone release and body temperature. Additionally, circadian rhythms have also been associated with sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder.

Studies by researchers at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York showed that light therapy tailored to increase the circadian stimulation during the day benefited individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia living in long-term care settings.

Light influences these rhythms, turning on or off the genes that control the individual's biological clock.

Many people with Alzheimer's or dementia have disrupted circadian rhythms, so their sleep patterns are off and they stay awake at night, which then makes them sleepy during the day or even agitated or anxious.

Researchers at the institute found that exposure to a bluish-white light during the daytime for four weeks significantly increased sleep quality, total sleep time and reduced agitation and depression. Improved sleep means improved behavior among those affected by Alzheimer's or dementia.

Additionally, the study showed that light interventions led to improvement in appetite and calmer and more manageable behaviors. A growing number of studies have shown that better and brighter lighting can improve sundowning behaviors and also reduce sleep/wake disturbances.

The combination of damaged nerve pathways from Alzheimer's disease and the normal deterioration of the eyes due to aging means that levels of light, particularly indoors, are not usually sufficient for the internal body clock to be tuned in to the usual daily pattern. Caregivers should strive to take their loved ones affected by the disease outdoors more often, particularly in the morning hours. Also, most night lights used in the home have a yellowish tint, but night lights with a bluish light can help regulate the circadian rhythm, as it "tells" the rhythm to "wake up," which, in turn, regulates the individual's internal clock.

Researchers said that exposure to bluish-white light sources is a simple, inexpensive, non-pharmacological treatment to improve behaviors and sleep patterns in people with Alzheimer's and dementia. Aquarium lamps have the bluish-white light source and many other light sources of this type are coming on the market.

Questions about Alzheimer's disease or related disorders can be sent to Dana Territo, the Memory Whisperer, owner of Dana Territo Consulting, LLC, at thememorywhisperer@gmail.com.

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Alzheimer's Q&A: How does light affect someone with Alzheimer's or dementia? - The Advocate

As college students at UC San Diego, the fast paced quarter system seems to bring us lots of stress and takes away lots of our time. Some studies have shown that keeping plants around inside your bedroom, living room, etc. can actually help improve your mood. Just like a nice hike in nature or walking outside might help you breathe a little better or release stress, having more green around inside can have a little of that same effect. However, it is important to make sure you have the right kind of plant so you can be able to watch it thrive! In order to be a successful college student plant parent, be sure to find plants that are compatible with indoor lighting and are ideally low maintenance. If youre not sure what kind of plants those might be, check out some of these options:

Succulents Succulents are a perfect dorm addition because they are so abundantly found, low cost, and very low maintenance when it comes to watering. These little guys love to be in the sun, so try to keep them on a windowsill or somewhere nice and bright. If youre looking for a nice little addition to your desk, Trader Joes sells succulents for usually less than five dollars!

ZZ Plant The zz plant, with its tall stems and plentiful green leaves, is a perfect house plant because it can grow in bright, medium, and even low light, which makes it convenient for all types of living situations! You only need to water it once every other week or so, so it is incredibly low maintenance. This plant can also release a lot of oxygen into the air, so it can keep things fresh!

Pothos The pothos plant is also a great option for dorms or apartments that dont get as much natural light as other plants might need. This plant cascades down the side of its pot with big, bright green leaves that give off a calming effect. You can place it on top of a bookshelf or dresser and watch as it grows, draping down the side. Be sure to allow the soil to dry fully between waterings.

African Violets If youre looking for something with more than just green leaves, then these blooming violets are the plant for you! With colors ranging from deep magenta to lighter pinks and whites, these plants are nice to have around to brighten up a room. They do prefer bright light, but indirectly, so you can keep it on a desk or a bedside table. Just like pothos plants, let the soil dry out before watering!

Aloe Vera If you have lots of bright light in your dorm or apartment, consider the wonder plant, aloe vera. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but this plant also has a long list of uses and benefits! The gel inside of the plant has been known to treat sunburns, clear up acne, ease skin irritation, and even speed up the healing process of cuts and burns. If you choose to buy one of these miracle plants, be sure to keep it in direct sunlight and keep the soil moist at all times.

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Top Dorm and Apartment Friendly Plants - The UCSD Guardian Online