Building Homes from Trash. By Kate Murphy, NYTimes, September 3, 2009. "Dan Phillips, 64, who has had an astonishingly varied life, working as an intelligence officer in the Army, a college dance instructor, an antiques dealer and a syndicated cryptogram puzzle maker. About 12 years ago, Mr. Phillips began his latest career: building low-income housing out of trash. In 1997 Mr. Phillips mortgaged his house to start his construction company, Phoenix Commotion... To him, almost anything discarded and durable is potential building material... So far, he has built 14 homes in Huntsville, which is his hometown, on lots either purchased or received as a donation. A self-taught carpenter, electrician and plumber, Mr. Phillips said 80% of the materials are salvaged from other construction projects, hauled out of trash heaps or just picked up from the side of the road. 'You can't defy the laws of physics or building codes,' he said, 'but beyond that, the possibilities are endless.'"
2009-09-06
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