Bamboo Research

I emailed Kevin Koga at Bamboo Hardwood Flooring with my questions about bamboo.

Here are my questions:

* Where do you get the bamboo from?  If outside the US, why isn't it grown locally?

* What are the pros of using bamboo flooring?  Any negatives?

* How much does the bamboo flooring cost?

* Do you sell mainly locally or around the US?

* What is the expected life of bamboo flooring?

* Is there a coating put on bamboo flooring?  If so, what is it and is it toxic?

* Do you make the flooring or is it done elsewhere then brought to you?

* How is the bamboo flooring made?

* Would I be able to get samples?

Class Day 9

Becca Self
Education Director
Seedleaf

Works with the idea of food systems and being sustainable with them.  The three legged stool of sustainable when dealing with agriculture: environmental, economic, and community.  Beer and cigarette companies supply signs to markets that they display, while the healthier food choices don't.  There is an obesity-hunger paradox, which relies on convenience to keep going. Poor people can't afford any healthy food, so they buy fattening food.  In downtown Lexington, we have an area called "food desert".  This means they have no access to large retail grocery stores.  

Seedleaf started in 2007, and decided to start playing around the idea of growing food in these bad areas.  They grow food, and also gardeners.  Teach people how to grow, cook, and compost.  

There is no perfect system!!!

One of the systems they are hoping to establish better is the idea of aquaponics.  It uses the connection between fish and plants.  The fish water gets dirty, and the plants drink the water and filter the harmful items out and them the clean water goes back to the fish tank.  It's a never ending cycle.


*Important date:  Have blog into book form to send off to blurb.

Research

Look what I got in the mail from Forbo...got a Forbo Product Guide 2011, Sustain Straight to the Points, Forbo Cleaning and Care Guide 2011, Environment Brochure 2006, 1 Marmoleum Real sample, 1 Marmoleum Composition Tile (MCT) sample, and 1 Marmoleum Dual sample.

The Marmoleum, Marmoleum Dual Tile, and MCT contain 46.5% recycled content, which is wood flour and tall oil.  The indoor environmental quality of all three tiles with their adhesive meets the requirements set, and consists of low emitting materials.  Marmoleum contains 33% by weight of renewable materials including linseed oil, pine rosin, and jute.  Marmoleum Dual Tile and MCT contain 23% by weight of renewable materials including linseed oil and pine rosin.  

The rosin used is a key agent in the first step of making the Marmoleum tiles.  It is tapped from pine trees, which doesn't affect the tree's growth.  Along with linseed oil, the two give the tiles their strength and flexible qualities.  Linseed oil is the most important raw material used in the tiles.  It comes from the pressing of the seeds from the flax plant.  In the past, it was used as a cooking oil and for lighting.  The linseed oil is mixed with Tall oil, which is a recycled post-industrial by-product of the Kraft paper industry.  This helps pout the oxidation process in the production of the tiles.  Jute is the backing material used.  It's natural, and comes from the yarn form of the webbing spun from jute grown in India and Bangladesh.  The pigments used are ecologically responsible pigments that don't contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium.  Other materials in the tiles include wood flour, cork flour, and limestone.

In the production of linoleum the main impact is due to the amount of energy used.  The whole process consists of oxidation, mixing, calendaring, and drying.  For years, Forbo has been working on lower the amount of energy they us, and in 2004 they managed an energy saving of 3.2%.  The energy sources used are electricity and natural gas.  

All over the world, Forbo has obtained numerous awards for being environmentally friendly.  In the US, Desk Top and Bulletin Board received an environment award in 1997.  The Sequoia Award is given to organizations that demonstrate environmental innovation and leadership in conservation techniques, applications and processes.  Also, they received from Buildings Magazine's Innovations Award for 'Environmental Sensivity' at the Neocom World's Trade Fair in 1998, 1999, and 2001.

Marmoleum consumes about 28-35 kg of oil during the production process.  The amount of CO2 released is about 29-36 kg.  

The tiles life span is around 25-40 years, and after that the floors need to be replaced and disposed of properly.  The options for disposing of the old tiles are incineration or landfill.  With incineration the burning of linoleum is about the same amount of CO2 released as the raw materials within the tiles.  The linoleum is a closed loop system, which means the energy obtained from incinerating linoleum is roughly equivalent to, or even more than, that which is used in production.  With landfilling the tiles, the linoleum can safely be added to landfill refuse sites where it natural decomposes.  Linoleum is biodegradable and doesn't release any harmful substances or gases.  

Bamboo Research

Orion Trading Group

Contacted to ask who to question about bamboo and maybe get samples.  They are located in California and sell bamboo stalks around the country.  

Strand Woven Bamboo Process

Strand woven bamboo flooring is the most durable bamboo on market now.  The strand is 90% of the flooring mass and 10% is the glue.  

The raw bamboo is split into bamboo pieces.  This strips of bamboo then need to be broken down the middle.  It doesn't break the bamboo fibers.  This breaking of the pieces allow for the adhesive to hold better when it comes to gluing the pieces together.  That makes the process of flattening out easier.

Bamboo contains sugar, protein, carbohydrates, starch, fat, and wax more than wood.  This makes bamboo susceptible to mold and insects.  Carbonizing them removes all the organic parts through the use of high temperatures.  This helps to extend the life and quality of the bamboo.

The carbonized bamboo strips are then dipped into an adhesive, and then is hung up to drain the excess off.

Then it's on to the press machine for the bamboo strips.  The cold press puts about 2000 tons on the strips in a 15 minute span per log.  One mold equals one log.  After being pressed, the mold is moved on to dry and allow the adhesive to get stronger.  After drying the mold is then taken off.

These logs were what was taken off from the mold.  The sides are already cut and ready for the next step in the process.  

These are the logs without their mold with 2 ends cut.

Here are the logs with 4 sides cut.

Then the logs are slices into boards.  They can't be sanded and finished down like normal wood flooring, instead it has to be cut.  The flooring pieces are then placed in conditioning rooms for weeks.  This is a must in the process because it stops the bamboo flooring from cupping or bending after installation.  The flooring pieces have small holes in them from the slicing that a putty is first put on and sanded down.  Then the finishing coat is applied.

Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons

Hardwood trees take around a 100 years to mature enough for it to be cut down and made into flooring materials.  Bamboo on the other hand only takes about 3 to 5 years to grow enough in order to be the right size to cut down for flooring.  Also, since bamboo is a grass it doesn't need to be replanted about being cut.  It just continues to grow back, and doesn't need pesticides for it to grow.  The variety of colors in bamboo flooring is due to the amount of heat exerted on the bamboo.  Bamboo floor sadly isn't resist to scratching, chipping, or denting.  This makes it somewhat similar to typical hardwood flooring.  There are two types of bamboo flooring: engineered and stranded.  The engineered bamboo flooring isn't 100% bamboo, instead it is considered in piles; the more piles the stronger the flooring is.  

The problems associated with bamboo growing is the amount of space being cleared for bamboo growth, the large amount of chemical fertilizers used, increase in erosion due to clearing of spaces, the soil is losing its qualities, and there is a lose of local plants due to the changing of the landscape.  Sadly, no bamboo companies have a credible environmental certification.  Some problems with bamboo also is that in direct sunlight it can bleach, there is no Fair Trade certification with it, it can't be sourced locally, and it will stain easily if not sealed right.

The benefits of bamboo flooring are is easy to clean, it's non-allergenic, and is long lasting.  The benefits it holds over other hardwoods are it costs up to 50% less, it's easy to install, it can be installed in a variety of ways (nailed, floated, or glued down), it's a renewable source, some companies use safer resins, and it's fire resistant.  

Cali Bamboo

* Emailed about who to contact with questions and asked for samples.

Bamboo Research

Scott Smith, Dean of Agriculture, emailed me back saying that from his knowledge on bamboo in Kentucky...it is only grown for ornamental purposes.  He recommended I contact: Rick Durham or Win Dunwell in the Horticulture Department.

Rick Durham, Associate Extension Professor, Consumer Horticulture

(859) 257-3249

rdurham@uky.edu

Win Dunwell, Extension Professor, Nursery Crops

(270) 365-7541 Ext. 209

wdunwell@uky.edu

Reading 7





Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Chapter 5 Pages 118 - 156

This chapter deals with the idea of repeating diversity of all types, especially the connection of the environment and our society.  Diversity is a good thing that everyone should keep in mind and try to follow.  We as a culture need to go through a "de-evolution" that would result in a simplification on a mass scale.  This would help out society greater towards being healthier. 

"...fitting-est who thrive." (p 120)

The "fitting-est" individuals are the ones who are energetic and engage in a relationship between them and the place they are within.  An example are ants.  There are a variety of ant types, but each interact on diffferent leves of the same space.  Like in a tree, there are a type of ants of the branches and another type on the leaves.  In a way, they work together to some degree. 

The industries of today need to involve themselves with their surroundings (both setting and culture).  They need to begin thinking "local" because that is considered a sustainable route.  If they go outside local, it can affect there own space.  Because by bringing in new things into their setting, they could maybe harm their ecosystem.

When it comes to sewage treatment, the idea of a "living machine" is emerging.  Incorporated in this "living machine" is actually nature itself.  So putting nature together with our sewage could help both of us out whether it be food for animals, or a cleaner environment with less waste for us. 

We have become an indoor culture due to our materials and this idea of comfort that we praise.  We need to begin merging ancient ways and new technology together to create safer systems for everyone.  It's amazing how simple things like placing the thermostat in a different place like towards the workers and not the machines (that give off heat) can help cut costs and help the temperature to relate to the people and not the machines.

Certain types of energy depend on the climate.  Like with with wind power, the area has to get large amounts of wind and also have enough space for the massive wind mills.  This idea of the environment and us working together needs to grow.  We should begin to treat and adapt our buildings to be like trees.  That is help purify the air, create shade, enrich the soil, and change with the seasons.  Our cities should become forests.

In China, Styrofoam ("white pollution") is plaguing them.  The idea of creating biodegradeable trash that can be thrown out of the train window is a thiving ideal.  This way they could promote people to litter, and it would help the environment.  We need to protect nature.

Why do we work at/with harmful companies?

How can we not work with them?  They provide jobs and goods for people.  How can we say no?  We can't escape their grasp.

This diagram pieces ecology (top), economy (bottom right) and equity (bottom left) together.  Economy refers to capitalism, equity to social, and ecology to environment.  Between economy and equity there is a shift towards fairness.  Between equity and ecology the idea of questioning how safe settings are come into play.  Between ecology and economy eco-efficiency emerges.

Slow Death By Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie

Chapter 4 Pages 96 - 130

The use of flame retardants is/was very popular, even though it's not safe for the users.  This use of bromine as a flame retardant isn't healthy, and yet we are subjecting ourselves to it.  Yet there aren't too many bromines in the world.  Somehow we find enough to contaminate ourselves...

"The fellow we met with said, 'Of course, we need flame retardants on furniture, because kids are playing with matches.'  I mean they were seriously saying that we need the flame retardants in furniture so the kids can go on playing with matches.  I will never forget it." (p 100)

What kids are playing with matches?  Shouldn't that responsibility be on the parents, and not on the furniture.

The bromine in flame retardants is a known carcinogen and mutagen, and we are poisoning our future generations with it.  Children may die from their pajamas catching on fire, but it is worth the cost of pumping chemicals into their developing systems?  These children are out future and we are polluting them. 

It's ironic that Richard Simpson, the Chairman of the CPSC, believes that if something is bad for our health there would be a ban on it.  Yet these isn't.  Look at the other hazardous things that are in the world killing people, and yet there is no ban.  How is it companies can get away with putting chemicals that hurt consumers in their products?  Money drives us to do crazy and dangerous things.


We should start to recognize the things we put into our systems aren't good, when the animals we use for food die from eating it.  Shouldn't that be a sign for all of us, and for the companies to stop.  Such a simple mistake like putting the wrong ingredient in feed for animals, resulted in thousands of animals being put down, and thousand of kilograms of diseased food.  And what we did with the contaminated food...we buried it in pits throughout Michigan...that doesn't seem too safe.  


The government should be control, yet it isn't!  Public health appears to not be a priority.


It's crazy to think that future archeologists will be able to base the toxic chemicals we used into different eras.  That is how we will be remembered.


Companies will do anything to ensure that they will continue going on to manufacture and earn from their products made.  Even if it means putting out ads telling people to put flame retardants on everything to ensure kids won't catch the furniture on fire when they play with matches.  There was no mention of the health effects these flame retardants had on the children...

Bamboo Research

Since I wasn't able to get any answers from Bamboo Hardwoods that I needed I decided to go search elsewhere for myself because bamboo interests me.

Bamboo Now

Bamboo is a very renewable source because on average it grows 2 inches an hour, which is four times faster than wood.  It also helps to control the amount of CO2 in the air by consuming 35% more than other woods.  Bamboo also helps by not needing a lot of water to grow.  A great side effect to growing bamboo is that it leaves the soil and water it uses in better shape than when it first started.  We get our bamboo right now from overseas in Asia; the United States is the largest importer of bamboo in the world.  There really hasn't been a move towards growing any bamboo in the US, since we can just get it overseas with less hassel.

College of Agriculture

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture posted a paper online about bamboo.  I'm thinking to contact them and try to see if they are growing bamboo.

Scott Smith, Ph. D.

Dean of College of Agriculture

859-257-4771

mssmith@uky.edu

*Emailed 10/14/11


Would like to maybe trying growing bamboo indoors.