Tongkonan: Toraja Traditional House (I)
The author had the opportunity visit tourist areas Tanah Toraja in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This tourist area is rich in local wisdom in the architecture of the house. If the author of its natural beauty will discuss in another blog. Here the authors focus on the architecture of traditional houses “Tongkonan“.
The traditional house “Tongkonan” means sitting together, where people confabulate or just gather.
Tongkonan home custom home should be facing north, where the door at the front of the house, in the belief the earth and the heavens and the earth is one unit is divided into 4 parts, namely:
1. The northern part is called Ulunna rainbow, the most noble.
2. The eastern part is called Matallo, where the sun rises, the place of origin or a life of happiness.
3. The western part is called Matampu, where the sun goes down, the opposite of happiness or life, ie hardship or death.
4. The southern part is called Pollo’na rainbow, as opposed to part of a noble, a place to let go of something that is not good.
Contrary to the philosophy of life that was taken from the teachings Aluk Todolo, custom home building has significance and meaning in all life processes masyarakata Toraja, among others:
1. Location of building a house that ran north-south, with the door located to the north.
2. The division of the room that has a specific role and function.
3. Placement window that has meaning and function of each.
4. Placement of wooden blocks with a certain direction, that is a staple in the north and east, south or north ends.

Toraja traditional housing construction done in mutual cooperation, in accordance with the capabilities of each family, which consists of four kinds, namely:
1. Tongkonan Layuk, where traditional house set up rules and deployment rules.
2. Tongkonan Pakamberan or Pakaindoran, implement a custom house rules. Usually in one area there are several tongkonan, which are all responsible for Tongkonan Layuk.
3. Stone tongkonan A’riri, traditional house that has no customary role and functions, just as the center of family ties.
4. Barung-barung, is a private home. After several derivatives (inherited), later called Stone Tongkonan A’riri.
Solar Cells on The Wall Paint
Entering the year 2012 many things to do, including trying to use alternative energy sources for electricity in your home or apartment. A study at the University of Notre Darme develop solar panels on the wall paint. A team of Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have made a major advance toward this vision by creating an inexpensive “solar paint” that uses semiconducting nano particles to Produce Energy.
“We want to do something transformative, to move beyond current silicon-based solar technology,” says Prashant Kamat, John A. Zahm Professor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry and an investigator in Notre Dame’s Center for Nano Science and Technology (NDnano), WHO leads the research.
“By incorporating power-producing nanoparticles, Called quantum dots, into a spreadable compound, we’ve made a one-coat paint That diesel can be applied to any conductive surface without special equipment.”
The team’s search for the new material, described in the journal ACS Nano, centered on nano-sized particles of titanium dioxide, coated with the which were the resource persons either cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide. The particles were the resource persons then suspended in a water-alcohol mixture to create a paste.
When the paste was brushed onto a transparent conducting material and exposed to light, it created electricity.
“The best light-to-energy conversion efficiency we’ve reached so far is 1 percent, the which is well behind the usual 10 to 15 percent efficiency of commercial silicon solar cells,” explains Kamat.
“But this paint can be made cheaply and in large quantities. If We Can Improve the efficiency somewhat, We May be Able to Make a real difference in meeting energy needs in the future.”
“That’s why we’ve christened the new paint, Sun-Believable,” he adds.
Kamat and his team also plan to study Airways to Improve the stability of the new material.
ND nano is one of the leading nano technology centers in the world. Its mission is to study and Manipulate the properties of materials and devices, as well as Their interfaces with living systems, at the nano-scale.
If this product has been manufactured commercially then our dependence on electricity can be saved. Let’s wait the mass production of these paints.
Do You Have Problem With Rat
Mouse are the most annoying pests, he broke boards, furniture, walls and lots of things around the house. Generally we will usepoison or traps to overcome. But the use of poisons and trapshas a flaw.
The use of poison, if not the correct amount or careless to put itwould have an impact on the surrounding environment. For example contaminate food or beverage that is in the vicinity.Thus, not only eradicate the rat, but other animals can bepoisoned. Moreover, if contaminated to the children. Use ofTraps also have drawbacks. The use of traps which too often make more careful. Mouse can learn to avoid traps. The biggest obstacle of the two methods in, is a dead rat will be disposed where?
Recent technological developments allow us to repel mouse by using sound waves. This technology uses the Android-basedsoftware that is embedded in mobile phones. Rat Killer is asoftware that can be downloaded for free at the Android Market.Works by emitting waves with a frequency of 2 KHz, 5 KHz, and 8KHz. This product was developed by the Warrior.
Field trials, a cell phone equipped Rat Killer software emits acontinuous buzzing sound. Trials for 30 minutes managed to driveall the mice diarea area of 5 meters. You have a problem with Rat, try to use the software Rat Killer.
Green Grant for Homeimprovement
If you currently considering buying a house from a developer or real estate company, an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of your home. Rather than abusive or ill-advised home-mortgage terms, you can use this credit to finance the long-term benefits of renewable-energy sources. Tax credits aimed at stimulating the housing market can be used to invest in reducing your home’s energy consumption and monthly utility. Plus, it’s still a buyer’s market out there, and you shouldn’t close on a house without an evaluation of the home’s overall energy-efficiency.
Similarly, if you improve your home, you should consider using materials that are environmentally friendly and can reduce carbon production. Go to any home improvement store, and you’ll find aisles reserved for green building materials.
For flooring use the green material like: Cork floor, Bamboo flooring, Recylced Carpeting, or Linoleum Flooring. Green floors are typically made from renewable or recycled products. These non-toxic flooring materials are said to be safe for the environment and for people, and can be installed in an eco-friendly manner without harmful gas emissions.
For home buyers with a solid credit rating, a standard 2.5kW solar-powered electric system might add between $100-$115/month to your mortgage. Meanwhile, you might easily save this money or more each month by reducing your electric bill. The cost and rewards for geothermal systems can be even more wide-ranging with some estimates suggesting the added cost to your mortgage might be as low as $20-$30/month and generate savings up to $75-$100/month. Naturally. These figures do not apply to every home, otherwise conventional heating and cooling systems would be nearly dead by now, but many homes and homeowners do have this potential and fail to realize it.
Source of Financing a House Renovations
Want to renovate your house but not enough funding is constrained. We may need a loan to makeover your house, whether to expand his house, renovating, or improving energy efficiency including insulation.
you can apply for a loan to the bank to renovate your A house. renovation loans include:
masonry;
plumbing;
electricity;
interior decoration
Thus, you can request a various renovation
There is talk of renovation during the refurbishment of a room or building. The renovations are therefore to improve a home and outbuildings.
Before applying for loans to banks, pay close attention to the requirements that they specify. Discuss with your partner, so that there is consensus and common perception of the loan. Proposed loan amount should be raised 25% of the renovation budget plan. material price increases in anticipation of buildings. choose a bank that you trust.
Choice of Colors to Paint Your House
The d
esign and style you want for your home requires special attention when choosing paint colors. The types of designs and styles can lead to large impacts on paint colors to paint any home.The colors are strong and dark colors are best suited for rooms like the kitchen or bathroom. However, there is a difference in the traditional style and modern interior designs.
The modern concept of design is composed of neutral colors. This type of colors provides a more classic style to the room or room in question and usually the colors to paint the bedroom walls are used in most any home.
Different people may prefer certain color shades, so it is good to consider if the paint colors are adapted to the environment and complement the other home accessories, such as furniture and other decorative items present. For example, if blue is your preference, then you can always mix the color with some brown tones of the color will look even better.
The management of the colors to paint your home must be evaluated very carefully and patiently. If you for example burgundy lover, you should consider which are the best colors to blend properly and thus achieve a better design of your home.
Maintain proper harmony between colors to paint your home can play an important role in the quiet of home, if you arrive at your home to rest and is a heavy and very strong colors, can have a negative effect on your relaxation and tranquility , while a good color management on the walls of your home can help you calm and relaxed states.
This can also occur because the style and accessories your room does not conform to the skin, then the color seems a bit uncomfortable. Your home may be made to look elegant, with the help of paint colors, but you must understand that colors can also be added for curtains, furniture, cushions and other accessories.
If in case your household members have no idea about how to choose paint colors for your home or are confused in choosing the perfect style for your room, then you can always go to expert advice on design interior may suggest what could be the best colors to paint your home as your furniture and accessories.
