A Revolution... is required

What the heck can we do about "Styrofoam"? (expanded polystyrene or "EPS") Many recycling experts have tried to solve this problem and FAILED because EPS is costly to ship and much of it is food-contaminated.  When they do recycle EPS, it ends up as low-grade plastic (polystyrene).  Because that material has little value, it doesn't make economic sense to ship EPS to recycling facilities (which are few and far between).  Even though EPS is technically recyclable, most of it ends up in landfills, if not our streets, rivers, and even the ocean.

Let's just BAN it, right?    Well... it turns out that banning EPS doesn't help the environment, it arguably makes things worse.  EPS replacements cost a lot more, require far more water and energy to make, and many/most of them are not recyclable or compostable. We need a radically different approach.

By processing EPS and paper into composites using local, low-tech methods, all the EPS from your neighborhood can be turned into highly useful products. So the world is cleaner, we save energy and landfill space, and the money saved can be spent on better things.

Who is Dave Pennington anyway?

I am an eco-artist/inventor (some say alchemist) currently living in Dallas TX. Trained at the University of the Virgin Islands as an aquaponic systems designer, I currently work as an aquaponic farmer and in the process of optimizing that concept I developed several eco-inventions, mostly focused on energy management. I needed insulated tilapia tanks, so I came up with an "EPIC" invention. As with aquaponics, the future was waiting... in the past. I figured out how to combine EPS (invented in the 1950's) with "papercrete" (invented in the 1920's) and the results have been AMAZING. Now instead of $3/gallon, large format insulated tanks only cost 30 cents per gallon, which is an order of magnitude less expensive. The same material can be used to build tornado resistant buildings for less than $10/sq ft.

With your help I will be able to spread this eco-technology far and wide, and build more solutions to the world's pressing ecological problems. The first order of business will be to start producing a line of simple and affordable machines for grinding and bagging EPS. At the same time a multi-lingual DVD showing how to make EPIC will be produced for mass distribution. Finally a learning portal needs to be created where people from all over the world can learn how to build food systems, house their families, and even solve the climate crisis using EPIC and other inventions. We can make all this happen.

I am currently working with a bunch of very sharp people who are doing some seriously interesting projects which unfortunately I can't talk  about yet. They have seen EPIC and other advances I have made, and they want to put me to work solving more problems, all related to the health of humanity and our planet. I have some ideas how to put their expertise to work. Think floating islands for coral reef restoration...!?!

Please chip in a bit and help the project along, we are working as hard as we can because there is a great need for solutions, and luckily some great innovations are being developed which can solve many of the problems we face. Your contribution will get you a little chunk of EPIC (and the recipe to make more). I believe it may even help our planet, and our kids who will see the future we are making.

What We Need & What You Get

We need funding to:

Create multi-lingual high quality training materials (DVDs, books, etc) so that everyone can start making EPIC in their own towns, and convert tons of waste EPS and paper into useful stuff

Develop and produce low cost EPS grinding equipment for small scale EPIC production at the local level.

Have professional engineering tests done on various EPIC mixes to see what the exact properties are. This is the first step towards getting EPIC approved for use in metropolitan areas with stringent building codes.

What you'll get:

• The basic formula for EPIC - This "formula" is actually more of a philosophy, with reasoning and "rules" which guide you to a happier outcome. And like any good philosophy it shows you why, not just how to make EPIC, as different applications require different approaches.
  
• Sample block of EPIC (doubles as a snazzy drink coaster) Available in sets!
  
• A complete kit with all the materials you need to make EPIC (just add drill!)
  
• Grinding machinery for making EPS into beads
• Training sessions and technical support for your project

If we don't reach our goal, we will use the funds donated to create MORE stuff like EPIC

The Impact

EPIC is a revolutionary new material. How it gets used is up to you! I can think of many ways to use it but the sky's the limit. Super efficient and affordable housing, off-grid commercial aquaponic systems, raised bed gardens, furniture, the possibilities are nearly endless. The domes we have built so far have been torture tested with sledgehammers and propane torches, termites and freeze/thaw cycles. All tests passed with flying colors. Buildings have been cut up with chain saws, moved, and reassembled again! EPIC joins to EPIC perfectly... using EPIC for the "glue".

EPIC is a ZERO WASTE product. Everything you make with it, and all the scraps, can be ground up and mixed into more EPIC.  You can build your project and NOTHING needs to go in the trash. When an EPIC creation outlives its usefulness, just grind it up and make it into something new!

Risks & Challenges

The risk to our planet is all that concerns me. I have already developed the technology you see here, so sending you the samples, the instructions, the consulting materials, that will happen unless I get hit by a bus. The challenge as I see it is how do we get this technology applied fast enough to make a real difference. I have a lot of ideas how to do that, and as you may have noticed my ideas tend to be a little bit outside the box. To heck with the box.

NOTE: EPIC is a new construction material. If you want to build a house out of EPIC and you live in an area where building codes require specific materials, you may need to move to an area with greater architectural freedom.

Other Ways You Can Help

• Please get the word out and make some noise about this campaign.
• Use the Indiegogo share tools!