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Pitch

A solution for plastic waste: use it to make homes that are low emissions, low-cost & easy-to-build.


Description

Summary

Key environmental problems we face today are the high energy cost of bricks & cement, serious damage to shores from extracting sand for construction, & disposing of ubiquitous plastic waste. Making low-cost, easy-to-build housing available for low-income families is a related social problem.

A potential solution to all of these problems is to use plicks, bricks made from recycled plastic that have:

  • Hexagon-shapes, about 30cm across& 6cm thick, &are hollow except for spokes joined at the centre by an axle: lightweight & strong!

  • Sealed tops on either face, enclosing a vacuum: the best of all temperature- & sound-insulators!

  • Male/female “slide-&-lock” clasps alternatively on the six side edges, to attach the plicks firmly together without glue or cement & create honeycomb configurations. Easy!

  • Slots built into the front & back ends of the axles that will accept a range of “insert-twist-&-lock” accessories. Anything goes!

    Using plicks would make “building-it-yourself”, low-cost homes accessible to all. Building would simply involve:

  1. Pouring foundations (where using concrete & getting some outside help may be unavoidable).

  2. Anchoring galvanized steel frames into these foundations for the walls & roof, & locking them tightly together to provide the house structure. These frames would also feature built-in, alternating male/female slide-&-lock clasps.

  3. Sliding& locking the plicks – first into the frames, alternating plicks with “half-plicks”to fill in all the spaces along the straight edges – and then into each other, until the frames are completely filled (leaving space for doors & windows).

  4. Finally, fixing the desired “insert-twist-&-lock”accessories into either side of the plicks' axles. Outside accessories could include decorative panels, grids for hanging plants & solar panels connected (on special plicks) by wiring built into the axles. Inside accessories could include shelving, decorative panels & fixtures for easy-access plumbing & electrical installations.


What actions do you propose?

I am submitting this proposal very late, and unfortunately do not have time to complete it. But at least the summary is there. Thank you.


Who will take these actions?


Where will these actions be taken?


How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?


What are other key benefits?


What are the proposal’s costs?


Time line


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