Now, You Can Say That Your House Looks Like S#*t and Really Mean It!

In our sterilized and swept-under-the-rug society, it's sometimes hard for us to relate to the daily struggles that people on the other side of the world must contend with. Intolerable yet all-too-real issues such as a lack of potable water or access to simple bathroom facilities are among the top basic necessities that we take for granted -- but imagine dealing with both while being ankle-deep in a field of cow patties. That would be a very bad day, indeed...or just one in a string of many.

                                                                
Indonesian students from Prasetiya Mulya Business School decided to address one major factor associated with living in third-world bummersville, so they devised a very unique waste-into-resource concept that garnered them the top prize in the 2009 Global Social Venture Competition via the University of California, Berkeley. Simply put, their EcoFaeBrick(s) resemble the appearance of conventional clay bricks used in house construction, but their main component is 75% processed, biogas-fired cow dung that is rendered scent-free in its production. Side by side, the conventional and cow-derived building materials look practically identical, but EcoFaeBrick(s) have the advantage in terms of strength (which surpass clay bricks by 20%), durability and being a truly eco-friendly product.

While they may weigh 20% less than their clay brethen, they are regarded as a better quality option due to their compressed resiliency and the fact housing will cost far less overall to build. Each year, production of these alternative bricks will reduce 1,693 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Another eco-plus is that removing excess excrement out of the fields in Indonesia will not only eliminate health concerns but also enable more land to be farmed, thereby increasing food ratios and income levels. It becomes even more of a win-win situation because the same farmers will be compensated for their cattle-produced poop, thereby elevating their standard of living and contributing to a more thriving local economy. The enterprising EcoFaeBrick team is currently setting their sights on expanding into 22 Indonesian cities as well as 22 additional global regions, so it might not be too far off in the future before you can flaunt your sh*tty house to all of your snooty, pinky-in-the-air friends!