Major concerns about climate change, global warming and ecological issues are focused on fossil fuel consumption and pollution. But what most of us fail to realize is that most greenhouse gas emissions com from buildings, not from cars and trucks. Traditionally, infrastructure has been an ecologically expensive process. But, recent efforts have looked into developing “green” building materials and construction methods.
One-fourth of the world’s wood and one-sixth of its fresh water are used in building construction. This situation will only get worse as the world’s population and more people continue to migrate and cluster in the cities. The increasing demands will also add pressure on increasingly scarce and at the same time resources such as water.
Because of this alarming reality, alternative materials for construction are now being introduced to companies and construction firms. For example, bamboo is increasingly being touted as an environmentally yet durable building material. It is lighter than steel and is five times stronger than regular concrete. The bamboo can also grow several feet per day, making it more economical than lumber from traditional trees which require years to mature. Also, bamboo is native to every continent except in Europe and Africa, so it has lower import costs than hardwoods which are usually harvested and imported from far areas.
Share: Twitter | Facebook | Email • Report: Bad use or Spam
