Green Building Initiative:

About Bamboo

Strength and Durability
Bamboo is a fascinating material due to its incredible strength, regenerative properties, and its natural aesthetic beauty. In structural engineering tests, bamboo has a higher tensile strength than many alloys of steel, and a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete. It even has a higher strength to weight ratio than graphite.

Bamboo has been used as the standard building material for the majority of the world for thousands of years. There are many examples of buildings constructed entirely of bamboo, which are now several hundred years old. Due to their strength, these structures have even withstood 9.0 magnitude earthquakes.

Fast Regeneration
Typically trees such as the ones used in conventional wood fencing take 30-50 years to regenerate to their full mass. In the meantime, there is less oxygen produced, less carbon dioxide consumed, and more soil runoff in the spot where that tree was harvested - all producing negative environmental effects.

On the other hand, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth. Some species have actually been measured to grow over 4 feet in 24 hours. A pole of bamboo can regenerate to its full mass in just six months! Bamboo can be continuously re-harvested every 3 years, without causing damage to the plant system and surrounding environment. During the time it takes to regenerate, the bamboo plant's root system stays intact so erosion is prevented. Continuous harvesting of this woody grass every 3-7 years, actually improves the overall health of the plant.

It is believed that if bamboo were planted on a mass basis it could completely reverse the effects of global warming in just 6 years, and provide a renewable source of food, building material, and erosion prevention.

Cali Bamboo - Saving the planet one fence at a time.

New in 2009: Hancock Solar and Skylights has established itself as the recognized leader in residential and commercial skylight and sun tunnel sales, installation, and repair north of Boston. Click here for more information.

On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50% - 80%. Also, because the sun is free, you're protected from future fuel shortages and price hikes. Other financial incentives include:

* Anticipated payback period of 3 to 7 years.
* Solar energy systems can take advantage of the sun's free energy year round.
* Solar energy can be produced even at low temperatures.
* Federal tax credits help pay 30% of the cost, up to $2,000 for the system. Many states and utilities offer additional support (read about the tax incentives of solar water heating).
* Between tax credits and energy savings, this system offers a faster return on your investment than other solar energy systems.
* Lower first-time start up cost than solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy EERE Consumer's Guide

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