| As the world looks to sustainable energy and | | | | natural resources we need to be creative and |
| products to reverse some of the devastating | | | | intelligent about the materials and products we're |
| effects of global pollution and warming, our focus | | | | using to continue sustainable growth on our planet. |
| must be directed towards viable, long term solutions | | | | Bamboo could easily replace hard wood trees for |
| for production of goods. In a search to find materials | | | | flooring, building (bamboo's tensile strength is 28,000 |
| that can continue to foster growth on the planet but | | | | pounds per square inch versus 23,000 pounds per |
| not decimate the land of nutrients plants and animals | | | | square inch for steel) and other products to help |
| need to survive, there is a viable solution. Time | | | | maintain a healthy environment. |
| Magazine and Newsweek identified that planting of | | | | It is estimated that around 1 billion people live in |
| bamboo is one of the top things American's can do | | | | bamboo houses and that trend is expected to |
| to help fight global warming. | | | | continue with the need to search for alternative |
| Bamboo is a very Earth friendly planto They can | | | | materials. Currently the market for industrial bamboo |
| grow successfully without any fertilizers or pesticides | | | | only reaches $500 million a year, but it is estimated |
| and they grow extremely fasto Bamboo plants | | | | to grow to $4-5 billion in the next 10 years. For the |
| release 35% more air than trees and refresh the | | | | bamboo industry to survive, however, it needs to |
| oxygen we breatheo Bamboo plants can be | | | | find large export markets. |
| harvested in 3-5 years and since it is a grass can be | | | | The environmental benefits of manufacturing bamboo |
| harvested again and again from the same plant.o Its | | | | products is just one step in the right direction of |
| wide-spreading root system helps prevent massive | | | | reversing the effects of global warming. It will take a |
| soil erosion and keeps twice as much water in the | | | | large scale effort from all nations to reduce the |
| watershed | | | | output of pollution and to begin respecting the earth |
| In an age of increasing concern over the depletion of | | | | and its renewable resources. |