Magellan News
Posted by admin | July 6, 2010 | No Comments » |
When we discuss green options for our Aqua Chicago condos, we often bring up the sustainable, green product that we use for our flooring– bamboo. What exactly makes bamboo a green construction product, and why is it a great alternative to hardwood floors? We’ll elaborate more on why LEED likes it and why we like it.
Bamboo flooring is a durable hardwood that is considered a rapidly renewable resource. It is also a recyclable material, making its use in construction even more environmentally friendly. It would have taken five times as much virgin hardwoods than bamboo to produce the flooring in Aqua, so bamboo was clearly our best option.
Additionally, bamboo is a self-regenerating plant. When harvested responsibly, it grows back very quickly without the need for replanting or the use of fertilizers and pesticides. You can harvest bamboo stems from with plant without killing the existing bamboo plant system, unlike the large trees used for high-end hardwoods. Where it would take 30 to 120 years of growth to regenerate the mature trees used in luxury hardwood flooring flooring, like maple, walnut or oak, it only takes around three years of growth to replenish bamboo.
Bamboo is actually a rapidly growing grass and not a tree. It is therefore recognized by LEED as a sustainable and renewable source for construction materials. When harvested properly, the use of bamboo has a much more manageable impact on the environment, and it can help protect against the deforestation of hardwood trees.
In general, we like hardwood floors for the same reasons many luxury homeowners do. Wood floors create a healthier interior in homes, since they don’t trap allergens or dust and are easy to clean and care for. Likewise, they don’t harbor moisture which can lead to mold, mildew or odor. You can treat them with a variety of finishes, and they are hard, resisting scratches and dents.
Well, bamboo has all of those qualities, so there is no “trade-off” in quality when choosing it as a green alternative to hardwoods. Depending on the treatment of the flooring, bamboo can be finished in a light natural tone all the way to a rich coffee finish. And depending on the processing of the material, you can have vertical grain, horizontal grain or no grain on your bamboo flooring.
Depending on the treatments you apply to finish and color your bamboo flooring, its hardness can range from about 10% less than a traditional wood to significantly harder. Even at its softest, bamboo is still resistant to scratches and dents and significantly harder than some wood options like soft pine. Moisture is similarly not an issue. Bamboo flooring doesn’t shrink or swell in temperature or humidity changes, so you can use it safely throughout a residence.
We’re proud to offer bamboo flooring in our residences at Aqua. In addition to efficient appliances and other responsible construction materials, bamboo helps us create a green lifestyle for our residents that starts at home and expands into the community of Lakeshore East. Read more about green living at Lakeshore East.
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