EDDT 231- Bamboo as a "Green Material" in B.C.: February 2008

Monday, February 25, 2008

Bamboo as a "Green Material"

Hello Everyone! This blog is going to be used to talk about Bamboo as a "Green" building material, and what we could do with this rapidly renewable material to make it more popular in the Province of British Columbia, and to create "Greener" construction.

Planning Outline

Project: Determine how bamboo could be brought to British Columbia and used to create “greener” construction.

Method:
1. Find out what makes a building material a “Green” material in construction.

2. Talk about all the different characteristics of “Green” materials and how bamboo meets up to those standards in British Columbia right now.

3. Apply the research to determine what we could do with bamboo in order to make it a “Greener”, and more popular building material in British Columbia.

4. Show the different ways bamboo could be used in construction here to create "Greener" construction, and minimize the use of some other building materials that are not so “Green”.

Special Problems:
▪ Can it live in our Climate?

▪ If so, would it need to be sheltered? If so, would it still be “Green”?

▪ If brought to British Columbia to farm, would bamboo be invasive?

▪ Would it need a lot of environmentally unsafe fertilizers?

▪ Would bamboo need a lot of water?

▪ Once mixed with glues, and other materials to create these building materials, would the overall product still be “Green”?

Also:
▪ Because a material is “Green” isn’t enough reason for someone to use it. What are some other reasons why bamboo should be used instead of other building materials, which are just as available?

▪ Should there be a cost comparison to some other building materials? Comparing wood flooring to bamboo flooring? (Manufacturer)

▪ How “Green” is bamboo compared to other popular materials? (Wood, Steel) Look at the specific characteristics of “Green” again.