Building With Bamboo Readers Response Draft 2

 In the article, “An Architect's Guide to Building with Bamboo,” Vadot (n.d.) wrote that bamboo is a dependable and sustainable material for construction. According to various experiments by Alejandro Chellet, using bamboo in construction brings about an innovative change to the industry. Bamboo can grow fast with little maintenance and cultivated globally. This diversity has led to the production of different qualities of bamboos and made them a volatile material. Bamboo can develop into a material that can be a substitute for steel. However, it is composed of fiber and is prone to crack along its core. Thus, it requires treatment and protection from natural circumstances to sustain.

 In summary, bamboo is affordable and transportable due to its low cost and weight. It is a reliable and sustainable material for the future of the construction industry.

Readers response

Based on the information explained in the article, it seems definite that although the material could be a solution to reducing an individual carbon footprint, the author could have elaborated more impacts bamboo has on the environment and why it is a reliable material.

Firstly, the author should have compared the impacts that bamboo has to further elaborate on how sustainable and reliable the material is. According to Craig (2012), the increasing rate of deforestation has made it mandatory for world economies to re-think their businesses and manufacturing practices. It takes more than 60 years to regrow a fully developed tree, while it takes 59 days to cultivate bamboo. Bamboo is perceived as the fastest developing plant and is as strong as steel. It is more practical for economies to be focusing on using bamboo instead of burning down the whole forest for wood. With this said, it is clear that bamboo is a sustainable and reliable material as it can grow fast to replace harvested ones.

Secondly, the author could have elaborated on why bamboo is reliable as compared to other materials. According to Harriet (2018),  bamboo fibers have a bio-agent that stops bacteria from growing and spreading on bamboo products. When using bamboo for construction, there are bound to be workers transporting the bamboo from point to point. These anti-bacterial properties have made it much safer for human interactions. Besides being a construction material, bamboo produces different products and utilizes them in our daily lives. Products such as bamboo straws and cutleries are safe and clean to use. With this said, the author could have included that bamboo is a reliable material.

Lastly, the author should have included how bamboo can affect the lives of people. Aside from building infrastructure to shelter people, bamboo can also be used to protect the environment. According to Laidler (2003), bamboo produces over 35 percent more oxygen than trees. Bamboo helps to supply fresh air for the world, and it can also reduce greenhouse gases. As research in Japan and other parts of the world, bamboo can 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. It has made bamboo a stabilizer that maintains the atmosphere as well as sustaining the environment. To sum up, the author could have mentioned that using bamboo will boost the air quality in the area and is also environmentally friendly. 

In conclusion, while Vadot has mentioned that bamboo is a material to support the construction industry, it is also friendly to the environment while improving lives at the same time.

(562 words)

references: 

Harriet (2018). 

https://barevida.com/blogs/news/why-is-bamboo-eco-friendly

Craig (2012) 

https://www.exhibitinggreen.com.au/blog/why-use-bamboo#:~:text=Bamboo%20is%20the%20most%20environmentally,excellent%20choice%20for%20building%20materials.

Laidler (2003) 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2003/mar/20/research.science