A Mexican electrical mechanical engineer, Ramón Martín Espinosa Solís, has come up with a way to build earthquake-resistant ‘plastic’ houses. How? The smart graduate from the University of Guadalajara developed a completely new material. With it, he was able to build these special environmentally friendly houses that are resistant to seismic movements.
The material is made from shampoo or milk bottles and broken chairs. It doesn’t require maintenance, and the house does not require air conditioning or heating to offer a good quality of life to its inhabitants. It’s more resistant to seismic movements because the material is flexible.
Solís explained:
In this house there is no air conditioning, and the difference in temperature with the outside is around six degrees Celsius. This is due to the insulating materials that cause a slow heat transmission. In addition, the bioclimatic architectural design allows cross ventilation, so the heat that transmits the material from the outside to the inside is eradicated.
It takes about three to four weeks to fully construct a 50-square-meter house. Much quicker than a house made of conventional materials which would be built in a period of three to four months, according to the institution.
In addition, the plastic panels are ultra-resistant to weathering and wear. It’s estimated that they can increase the lifespan of the house by 30-50 years. The plastic houses can last up to 100 years, while the life of a conventional house is only 50 to 70 years.
What’s more, because the material is made from collected plastic, the cost is reduced up to 50%!
One panel measures one meter 20 centimeters wide by two meters 40 centimeters high with a thickness of 10 to 13 millimeters. Many of these panels come together to make a house.
To manufacture them, first, they prepare the material by collecting plastic, separating it and grinding it up. Once ground, a mixture is made without the need for water. When it reaches the required stiffness, it is placed in a mold and into an oven at 220°C (428°F) to obtain the plates.
More information about the housing projects and other things such as tables and pallets made of reused plastic can be found on the Ecoplastico Ambiental website.
