Bamboo A green building materials presentation by Hisa Kominami (CDAE170)

What is bamboo? Bamboos are a diverse and primitive group of perennial plants in the true grass family They are widely distributed throughout parts of the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region It grows primarily in tropical and subtropical areas but several species grow in temperate areas There are approximately 2000 species world wide, of which between 50 – 100 are being used by humans Bamboo species vary in height from 1 ft to over 100 ft tall and have stem diameters ranging from 1 mm to 30 cm Certain species can grow up to 1 ft/day!!

Species Diversity

Global Distribution of Bamboo

Why is Bamboo important? Ecological Role - Is excellent at sequestering carbon and releasing oxygen (can sequester up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare and release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees) - Prevents soil erosion and maintains watershed integrity and soil health - Provides habitats and food for a variety of species (Giant Panda, Mountain Bongo, lesser bamboo bat, etc)

Economic Role - The current estimated trade in bamboo is 5 billion U.S. dollars - Bamboo related industries provide food, income, and housing to over 2.2 billion people Why is Bamboo important?

Multipurpose Crop For Humans Fuel Paper Fodder Furniture Food (shoots, wine) Musical Instruments Traditional Chinese Medicine Handicrafts (baskets, jewelry, pens, bicycles, fly rods) Construction (homes, scaffolding, bridges, reinforced concrete, boats, fences)

Bamboo in Construction Five story parking garage at the Leipzig Zoo using bamboo for the building’s envelope

Bamboo in Construction Bridge by Jorg Stamm

Bamboo in Construction Bridge by Jorg Stamm

Bamboo in Construction

Octagon Gazebo by Bamboo Technologies of Hawaii

Benefits of Building with Bamboo Can be harvested in 3-5 yrs. versus in yrs. for softwoods and hardwoods The yield (weight per acreage) for bamboo is 25% greater than that of timber Has a tensile strength that rivals steel (withstands up to 52,000 psi) Has twice the compressive strength of concrete Resistant to earthquake damage and practical on steep slopes Bamboo structures can be built very quickly, are low cost, durable, and environmentally friendly The energy required in processing bamboo is less than for concrete, wood, and steel

Benefits of Bamboo Flooring Is available with formaldehyde free glues and low voc finishes Aesthetically beautiful Is comparable if not stronger than oak in terms of hardness (Janka Ball Test – 1320 PSI) Bamboo exhibits little dimensional change compared to other commonly used woods (2.5x more stable)

Potential for Sustainability Renewable – can be harvested without damaging the plant and grows extremely quickly Plentiful – there is great potential for timber- quality bamboo to be produced in the U.S. Local – can be grown locally in a small land area Waste-reducing – sequesters carbon and leaves can be used as fodder or compost

Drawbacks of Bamboo Untreated bamboo is susceptible to attack by fungi and insects May or may not be harvested, manufactured, and shipped in an environmentally friendly manner Exclusion from building codes and lack of standards