Lamboo Inc. Partners with Canducci Group to Form the Most Eco-Sustainable Building Systems

Lamboo and Canducci are pleased to announce the expansion of their collaborative efforts to develop the most eco-sustainable building systems with low energy consumption throughout Europe and surrounding regions. The Canducci Group is the premier European structural material specialist and glu-lam fabricator with a remarkable history of diversity, innovation, culture, and natural stewardship in the wood construction industry. Lamboo Inc.’s structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) technology signifies the next generation of greenbuilding products due to its superior structural, thermal performance, durability, uniformity, and sustainable attributes. This alliance brings new possibilities to the forefront of ecologically aware architecture and the firms’ shared commitment to quality and creativity.

“The spread of Lamboo’s structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) technology throughout Europe requires the expertise and authenticity of construction industry professionals like the Canducci Group,” said Luke Schuette, President of Lamboo Inc. “Both of our firms know that collaboration grows market awareness, and we believe that our partnership will significantly multiply the integration of this technology in the European market with noteworthy professionalism.” Here, the Canducci Group’s large network of influence and capacity to innovate becomes central:

“The construction sector is highly orientated towards stronger, more efficient, more durable materials, and I personally believe structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) has all the credentials to push the construction quality beyond expected limits”; “Today’s architects ask for longer life spans, higher volume, and fancy finished materials: Lamboo’s advanced technology offers these performances and more; it is what we were looking for!,” added Davide Canducci, CEO of Canducci Group srl.

At both Lamboo Inc. and the Canducci Group new tools, networks, and technology are being developed to help evolve the excellence expected in their industries. Together Lamboo Inc. and Canducci are pioneering biocompatible design of engineered glued laminated bamboo structures to elevate the aesthetics and performance of materials in the XXI century.

Company Information

Lamboo, Inc. is an American material technology and manufacturing company founded with the combined experience of seasoned architects, structural engineers, material scientists, and biotechnology specialists. Anchored by a culture of innovation, our nonnegotiable purpose is the development of sustainable design technology for high-performance OEM applications as well as architectural, structural, and design industries worldwide. Lamboo Inc. aspires to be a corporate change-maker through ground-breaking products, sustainable practices, and distinguished partnerships. www.lamboo.us

The Canducci Group is a long-established glued laminated service company with roots in the market of timber and bamboo construction, both in Italy and the international building sector. The Canducci Group’s deep knowledge of structure and design, together with a firm commitment to the engineering design process, make the firm a reliable partner able to meet every kind of architectural request related to glued laminated structures. The Canducci Group shows consistent commitment since 1940 to advanced engineered solutions, top quality raw materials, specialized human resources, rigorous safety norms, reliability and punctuality, and cost-efficiency. www.canducci1940.it

LEED: Changing the built world for the better

The sustainable (green) building movement is a major trend in design and construction of commercial and public buildings. The United States Green Building Council has coordinated the establishment and evolution of a national consensus effort to provide the industry with the tools necessary to design, build and operate buildings that deliver high performance inside and outside the building footprint.

They have developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard, which is a rating system based on optimum site selection and sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere optimization, materials and resources (renewable and recyclable base), and indoor environmental quality. The LEED process is a systematic approach where building design and construction needs to meet various requirements in the five segments to reach a certain rating level, and LEED certification is voluntary. Whether it be a school, library, government building or your office, you probably have been in a LEED building. All people in the building industry are looking for ways to adapt to this changing environment in the private and public sectors. We know that buildings consume annually more than 30 percent of the nation’s total energy, and more than 60 percent of the electricity. Research has demonstrated that green design measures in new buildings reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase worker productivity and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems. 

(READ FULL STORY)

Sustainability in Construction of the Future

Facing the numerous challenges related to sustainability, many research works and experiments are conducted to develop innovative concepts, technologies and construction systems.

In order to identify the key perspectives of this domain, the magazine Habitation publishes an article on the construction of the future, including an interview of Professor Emmanuel Rey of the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST).



Among the numerous innovations currently under development in the built environment, some tendencies can be emphasized and grouped according to four research axes, which meet the work in which the LAST is presently involved.

Symbiotic neighborhoods.

This third generation of sustainable neighborhoods will borrow principles from industrial ecology to further develop synergies and resource exchanges at the scale of a neighborhood.

Rebuild with flexibility.

Much more than imagining a new ideal city in the middle of the fields, it is necessary, especially in Europe, to determine the optimal way to upgrade existing towns and cities. A key issue will therefore be the renovation, transformation and replacement of existing buildings.

New energy paradigms.

The first efficiency measure always consists in decreasing the needs. This reality is going to make bio-climatic strategies essential, taking into account an increasing number of parameters: passive solar energy and natural light, natural ventilation and passive cooling, weighing the interests of urban densification and quality of life. Integrated design of renewable energy system will also play an increasing role in the next decades.

Recyclable housing.

These enhancements will help the growing, in energy balances, of the importance of grey energy. This will promote, in Switzerland, the use of local resources such as wood, but also to innovate in the field of hybrid construction systems, which combine several materials taking advantage of the characteristics of each. Another major axis is the recovery of construction materials. "Today's buildings are mines for those of tomorrow. We begin to think about improved dissociated building systems which can reduce construction wastes and anticipate their treatment at the time of deconstruction" explains Prof. Emmanuel Rey. (Read More)

(Excerpt of article from Azobuild. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Lamboo, Laminated Veneer Bamboo (LVB), is a superior performing sustainable alternative that many will look towards to meet the Sustainable Technology needs of the future. Lamboo is leading the international effort of the industrialization of bamboo materials in both the public and private sectors. Bamboo is unmatched in its strength and longevity as a building material and is one of the fastest growing plant species on the planet. Lamboo is working with a number of distinguished organizations and universities to gain certifications and recognition for the potential role bamboo has in our future. To learn more about these efforts please view our Research and Product Information pages. Stay connected for updates on the growth of bamboo construction as exciting studies are being carried out through the organizations such as the USGBC, and Universities worldwide like the University of Cambridge and Oregon. Updates will be posted in the coming weeks!

 

 

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our website
at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999
…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Spanning The Globe: Bamboo Bridges Are On The Rise

In a country where steel and cement dominant the bridges and building, Australian company Bambuco showed the English a new way of thinking when they installed a temporary bamboo footbridge over the river Tyne in 2007. The bridge itself was a temporary outdoor sculpture designed and built for the SummerTyne festival to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Tyne Bridge. Spanning 390 feet across the Tyne River, the impressive sight was at a slight angle across the river to really stand out and was built entirely from 20 tons of bamboo split into 80 pieces. The bridge stood for three days and there was even a spectacular light display to mark the occasion.

While the bridge itself was not open to foot or vehicular traffic, perhaps the Brits could take a lesson from China where bamboo is a common and popular building material. Because of its high tensile strength and ready availability, bamboo is used for construction ranging from houses to scaffolding to bridges.

Most recently a bamboo bridge was built in the Hunan Province as part of a series of projects from Yan Xiao who has been developing designs for foot-bridges and vehicle bridges made from bamboo. Xiao is a native of China who is now a professor at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering and holds an appointment at the College of Civil Engineering of the Hunan University in China. The bridge, built in the remote Leiyang Village, is sturdy enough to hold a fully loaded truck. The span was built within a week by a team of 8 workers without the need for any cumbersome heavy equipment. While it is limited to a 8-ton design, tests on the campus of Hunan University have shown its capacity to hold much higher weights.

An earlier project of Xiaos’ was a high capacity bamboo footbridge that was a featured attraction at a conference organized by Xiao in Changsha, China. Xiao expects his modern bamboo bridge technology to be widely used in pedestrian crossing, large number of bridges in rural areas in China, as a environmental friendly and sustainable construction material.

(Excerpt of article by Stacey Irwin of Green Earth News. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

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Bamboo has long been touted for its remarkable strength and durability. It has been used in certain parts of the world for centuries. Bamboo often gets a unfair label of being the "poor man's timber" however, this could not be farther from the truth. With performance attributes far exceeding any other bio-based material, added with its rapid regrowth cycle, bamboo will become the building material of the future. Many sources, including this article, have been reporting that there is extensive research being carried out to utilize bamboo in structural applications. Some of these sources claim that vulnerabilities, such as deterioration from environmental and pest damage, are holding back its spread in the building industry. This, too, is an incorrect assertion. The fact of the matter is that although in raw form, bamboo has a few weaknesses; in its engineered form, these shortcomings can be completely removed and actually become some of the most impressive features of the material. This material, of course, is Laminated Veneer Bamboo (LVB) or Lamboo as it is commonly known. Many news organizations report that the development of bamboo is in its early stages, and that much of the technology does not exist to create a viable exterior grade bamboo product. This, as well, is a incorrect assumption as it is currently being produced by our organization and used throughout the world for a number of applications. For information regarding Lamboo (research) and (certifications) please follow the provided links. For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us  866-966-2999  … “MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Evolving Building Codes: Wood Revolution

Pushing the boundaries of innovative wood design and construction

There is a quiet revolution taking place within the design community. After a prolonged emphasis on concrete and steel for buildings other than homes, design professionals are using wood to great effect in a growing number of non-residential and multi-family building types—in applications that range from traditional to innovative, even iconic. Some are driven by wood's cost effectiveness while others cite its versatility or low carbon footprint, but their collective path has been made possible by building codes that increasingly recognize wood's structural and performance capabilities, and the continued evolution of wood building systems and techniques.

When the International Building Code (IBC) was introduced in 2000, it consolidated three regional model building codes into one uniform code that has since been adopted by most jurisdictions. It increased the possibilities for wood construction by (among other things) recognizing additional fire protection techniques, consolidating the maximum allowable areas and heights from the three legacy codes into one (thus increasing what's allowable in some jurisdictions), and allowing the use of wood in a wider range of building types. In subsequent versions of the IBC, even more opportunities have been created where additional fire protection features are used.

Even so, the pioneering nature of building design is such that there are always architects and engineers seeking to push beyond the conventional, and it is common for project teams to require—and be granted—variances for designs not covered in the code that can nonetheless be justified on a case-by-case basis.

This CEU will examine the use of wood both within the current IBC and through building projects that have further pushed the boundaries of wood design and construction.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by Continuing Education Center. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Timber is increasingly being recognized for its potential as a sustainable building material in an era where designers are looking for alternatives to the non-renewable resources traditionally used. We must start using options that we can replenished over time rather than using a finite resource; however, effective in terms of application and cost it ultimately may be. Many species of timber have attributes that make it ideal for construction and even though it is renewable many of these species take 25-50 years to reach maturity and require expensive and damaging replanting, threatening many weakened ecosystems. Due to these concerns, Bamboo is being used in many applications where timber has in the past providing remarkable strength, performance, and stability far exceeding any other natural materials (in addition to having a growth rate of 6-8 years). Testing and forecasting by experts has led to the coining of the term "the next super material" due to Bamboo's amazing attributes and resiliency.

As the world leader in the industrialization of bamboo, Lamboo is striving to make this prediction a reality by manufacturing the world's first certified structural grade bamboo component, laminated veneer bamboo (LVB). Through species selection, patented adhesives, and manufacturing processes Lamboo is able to create bamboo panels and components that far exceed wood's performance in nearly every aspect.

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our website
at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999
…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

The Evolution of Green Construction

The homes we live in create a huge carbon debt before the proud new owners ever cross the threshold. But even worse is the fact that they are built in such a way that they will continue to do harm once they are inhabited, thanks to inadequate insulation that leaves homeowners cranking the heat and AC, not to mention a complete lack of sustainable energy options. Luckily, there is a bright spot on the horizon, and it comes in the form of green construction.

The average construction site could be described as less than eco-friendly, to put it mildly. The materials used for such projects often include natural resources like wood and stone that are not harvested in a sustainable manner. Both logging and mining operations are notorious for damaging the environment through their efforts and doing very little to clean up afterwards. Further, these materials are frequently shipped all over the globe, creating massive amounts of pollution along every step of the way, not to mention the manufacturing processes, which produce even more pollution and waste.

And then, of course, there is the construction itself, which continues this assault on the environment. In short, the homes we live in create a huge carbon debt before the proud new owners ever cross the threshold. But even worse is the fact that they are built in such a way that they will continue to do harm once they are inhabited, thanks to inadequate insulation that leaves homeowners cranking the heat and AC, not to mention a complete lack of sustainable energy options. Luckily, there is a bright spot on the horizon, and it comes in the form of green construction.

Over the last several years, a rapidly growing awareness of serious environmental issues (pollution, deforestation, global warming, habitat loss, species extinction, etc.) has led the public to call for alternatives to the products and services they use on a daily basis. And since many consumers start in the home, the demand for green options on this front has grown considerably. In response, the construction industry has begun to realize a shift in practices, not as a whole, but at least in part, with companies springing up that provide eco-friendly options in the building process.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by EcoCltr.)

Environmental concerns have initiated efforts by organizations of all kinds from the private or public sector as well as government bodies to develop renewable practices and materials to replace declining or unsustainable resources. Bamboo as a resource is unmatched in its potential as an environmentally friendly, structurally stable building material. Bamboo produces 30% more oxygen and sequesters 35% more carbon than a like sized timber forest area. With a growth rate of 6-8 years to maturity (compared to timber 25-50) and root structure that eliminates the need for replanting bamboo can be produced on a large scale with much more ease than timber forests cutting costs and limiting energy consumption. Lamboo’s LVB (Laminated Veneer Bamboo) also represents one of the highest performing building materials available to the industry. Learn more about Lamboo’s attributes here.

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our website
at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999
…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

USGBC launches Green Building Information Gateway

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the launch of the Green Building Information Gateway. Coined GBIG, the web-based tool will accelerate market transformation by providing greater transparency and understanding of the green dimensions of the built environment. 

GBIG provides a transparent view of places, projects, collections and credits, detailing the actions and activities of LEED building owners and project teams over time. The tool provides maps, analytics and insights that reveal trends, patterns and processes in green building practice.

GBIG seeks to use data-driven insights to create value and competitive advantage for high performing green building projects around the world, the green building council said.

“The launch of GBIG represents years of research, information gathering and testing, and has been a true labour of love,” said Chris Pyke, the council’s vice-president, research. “Green building has gone from an era of firsts, to a global movement, connected by data.”

Users can search and explore green building activity around the world, analyze trends and patterns in green building practice and discover connections between projects, people, products and services. Additional information is available at: GBIG.org.

The tool was launched at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in San Francisco.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by Daily Commercial News. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

 

Incorporating Lamboo (LVB) Laminated Veneer Bamboo into projects can earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification under MR Credit 6 – Rapidly renewable materials, IEQ Credit 4.4 – Low-emitting materials; ID Credit 1 – Innovation in Design (Environmentally Preferable Material), and ID Credit 2 – Innovation in Design (Life Cycle Assessment / Environmental Impact). *Please refer to USGBC for information regarding project requirements.

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999
…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

AEC Daily Continuing Education – Lamboo

AEC Daily is a developer of online education courses for the construction and architecture industries. It is an e-learning provider for architects, engineers, and other construction professionals and serves over 450 companies.

Founded in 2001, online education courses are the main field of AEC Daily. They provide over 300 courses with a focus on sustainable design. Most courses are free while there is a submission fee for courses like the virtual tour of the USGBC headquarters. AEC Daily won the highest award in education from the American Institute of Architects in 2009 and continue to attract the highest numbers of design professionals in the industry. AEC Daily has been recognized as the common denominator for education in the AEC industry.

Lamboo offers a course covering laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) use in structural and curtain wall applications. This course compares the structural and mechanical properties of common building materials and composites, and illustrates how LVB components can be fully integrated into structural or curtain wall designs and meet the requirements of today’s sustainable built environment. Additional courses for window & door and interior panels will be added in coming months.

 (View PDF)

2012 Greenbuild Conference & Expo!

Greenbuild is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.

Thousands of building professionals from all over the world come together at Greenbuild for three days of outstanding educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events.

Launched in 2002, Greenbuild is a great opportunity to build new relationships and connect with colleagues from throughout the industry and around the world.

The U.S. Green Building Council is hosting Greenbuild 2012 in San Francisco from Nov. 14-16. This year will be focused on bringing technology and sustainability together in the global green movement.

U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council was established in 1993 and has grown to be a diverse group of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofits, teachers and students, lawmakers and citizens. Today there are 77 chapters, 13,000 member organizations and 181,000 LEED professionals strong that share the same vision of a sustainable built environment.

Green building is a win-win, offering both environmental and economic opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future demand for energy in the United States and a commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million jobs.

The USGBC has facilitated the establishment of the most widely recognized and widely used green building program across the globe, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is certifying 1.6 million square feet of building space each day in more than 130 countries. LEED is a certification program for buildings, homes and communities that guides the design, construction, operations and maintenance. Today, nearly 50,000 projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 8.9 billion square feet of construction space.

Lamboo representatives will be attending the show this week to meet with industry leaders and all others interested in learning about the advantages Lamboo has over traditional building materials.

The following Lamboo partners will be showcasing Lamboo materials within their exhibit:

Solar Innovations, Inc.
Booth : 438S
(800) 618-0669
skylight@solarinnovations.com

NanaWall Systems, Inc.
Booth : 1127S
Travis Troen - (415) 383-3148 Ext. 229
travist@nanawall.com

C.T. Windows, Inc.
Booth : 2428S
Sunil Tarneja - (407) 857-9237
starneja@aatctw.net

Among their displays these companies will be showcasing products and components from the Lamboo® Vue™ line of Window & Doors as well as curtain wall and storefront applications from the Lamboo® Renewall™ series.

  For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please

visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

 

Stronger bamboo industry pushed for 2016 by DTI

The Department of Trade and Industry pushing for a robust and sustainable Philippine bamboo industry by 2016, its press release said.

The agency is also eyeing to help position the country as a key player in the world bamboo industry next to China by 2020.

The Philippine Bamboo Congress was organized recently to increase public awareness on the potentials of bamboo. By maximizing the use of bamboo in producing products like furniture and construction materials, DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations and Development Group Merly Cruz said.

The move, Cruz said, aimed to stimulate economic growth and increase job creation, particularly for the marginalized sectors in the countryside, and to contribute in the mitigation of climate change.

By 2016, the DTI targets to create 37,648 jobs and 1,191 micro, small and medium enterprises in the country’s bamboo industry.

It also aims to generate Php744.48 million worth of investments, and P800.1 million in domestic sales from 2012 to 2016.

In 2009, the Philippines was among the top exporters of bamboo products and ranked 6th worldwide with a total export value of $30 million, according to the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by the Daily Star. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Lamboo Inc. is a innovative company that is leading the trend of sustainable development by utilizing the super material that is bamboo. As the main provider of structural grade bamboo, Lamboo is committed to cultivating this material to its full potential for use as a replacement to the traditional and depleted sources of timber as a ultra renewable alternative. Bamboo is not only a rapidly renewable resource in the form of engineered LVB (Laminated Veneer Bamboo) but also features performance attributes far greater than any other plant species. Superior performance, rapid replenishment, and environmental benefits make bamboo the ideal building material.

 

 For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please

visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

 

 

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Nigeria Can Generate 24 Million Jobs From Bamboo Production

Director of Forestry Department Ministry of Environment, Mr John Auta, has said that Nigeria can generate N28.6bn annually from bamboo production as well as create over 24 million jobs.

He said the management of bamboo forest would generate large-scale employment through harvesting, collection, transportation, storage, processing, utilization and marketing of products which would be replicated in Nigeria.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP at the weekend, he said: “The comparative advantage for Nigeria to adopt bamboo as tool for employment generation and rural development is not in doubt, because of the large pool of unemployed youths. With this, over 24 million jobs can be created and the country can get to generate N28.6bn annually too.

"The availability of indigenous bamboo species that would thrive well even in poor or degraded soil in many parts of the country is another advantage to Nigeria.”

He also advised Nigerians to commence the propagation of Bamboo to reduce overbearing demand on timber products, adding that dependence on timber had posed a serious threat to timber production.

He said the department was already reaching out to relevant bodies to achieve the goal of cultivating bamboo and other non timber products and added that the Nigerian forests were lying fallow, waiting to be explored in areas that would positively affect the people.

He said: “Nigeria is blessed with bamboo resources which grow on both private and state forest lands in all the southern rain forest states up to some derived savanna states in the North-central states of Nigeria.

“Bamboo has high potential for contributions to achieving sustainable forest management when it is optimally and efficiently utilized for producing substitutes for wood production and increases incomes for rural lively hoods,” he said.

He announced that Nigeria became a member of the International Network for Bamboo and rattan (INBAR) to actualize the goal of achieving the bamboo production in the country.

According to him, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) had undertaken a project formulation mission for the development of project proposal on bamboo and rattan processing in Nigeria.

He said the purpose of the project was to promote the development of bamboo and rattan value chain in West Africa.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by Leadership. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Environmental and social concerns have initiated international efforts to search for and create sustainable methods in our society. With declining resources and increasing populations there is the need for new materials for building and of course more opportunities for employment. It is clear that bamboo can be that renewable resource to be used in the next era of architecture and product development. Much like all natural resources bamboo must be protected and preserved as it is the most plausible solution to replace diminishing supplies of timber. Lamboo, Inc. is working closely with both private and government agencies internationally to ensure that bamboo resources are managed properly so that this remarkable resource will be there for the future.

  For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please

visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Powering Sustainability with the World’s First Bamboo Tender Introducing the LAMBOO Tender R1

A few weeks ago Lamboo announced the design of the world’s first tender incorporating the rapidly renewable resource of bamboo, the Lamboo® Tender R1. With the Monaco Yacht Show 2012 less than two weeks away Lamboo is providing additional details on the design for individuals involved in the maritime industry and those who will be attending the show and would like to discuss the project further.

The Lamboo® Tender R1 is a revolutionary design from Sigmund Yacht Design, a leading yacht and tender design firm which has chosen Lamboo materials not only for the sustainable attributes of bamboo but for its superior performance over traditional forms of hardwood. Also included in the design is a Steyr hybrid turbo diesel engine as well as state of the art navigation, electrical, and LED lighting systems.

“This showcase is a key example of both companies’ commitment to integration of environmentally responsible methods matched with innovative engineering of performance materials into the nautical market” said Luke Schuette, Lamboo Founder/CEO.

The construction of the R1 is being carried out by Cockwells, a pioneer within yacht and tender fabrication specializing in advanced engineering and modern construction techniques.

Executives from all three companies will be in attendance at the 2012 Monaco show and will be available for discussion on the R1 and the integration of sustainable bamboo materials within the maritime industry.

(Read full release on PRWeb)

Lamboo® Tender R1 Brochure

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

In Africa’s Vanishing Forests, the Benefits of Bamboo

In the district of Asosa, the land is thick with bamboo. People plant it and manage the forests. They rely on its soil-grabbing roots to stabilize steep slopes and riverbanks, cutting erosion. They harvest it to burn for fuel, to make into charcoal sticks to sell to city dwellers and to build furniture.

Asosa is not in China, not even in Asia. It is a district in the west of Ethiopia, on the Sudanese border. To many people, bamboo means China. But it’s not just panda food — mountain gorillas in Rwanda also live on bamboo. About 4 percent of Africa’s forest cover is bamboo.

Soon it may be much more. Bamboo may provide a solution to a very serious problem: deforestation. In sub-Saharan Africa, 70 percent of the people cook their meals over wood fires. The very poorest cut down trees for cooking fuel; those slightly less poor buy charcoal made from wood in those same forests. Every year Africa loses forest cover equal to the size of Switzerland. Terence Sunderland, a senior scientist at the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research, said that in southern Africa, even trees that can be used for fine carving, such as ebony and rosewood, are being cut down and made into charcoal.

Deforestation starts a vicious circle of drought and environmental decline. Burning wood releases the carbon stored inside. And deforestation accounts for at least a fifth of all carbon emissions globally. As tree cover vanishes, the land dries out and the soil erodes and becomes barren — a major reason for Ethiopia’s periodic famines.

Hundimo Dedere owns and manages a plantation of African highland bamboo in Southern
Ethiopia that was used as a model for modern bamboo cultivation and management training.

 

 How does bamboo improve on hardwood? Cut down a hardwood tree and it’s gone. It will take several decades for another to grow in its place; it can take a century for a forest to grow back after cutting. But bamboo is a grass, not a tree. Under the right conditions, it can grow a full meter a day — you can literally watch it grow. It is also fast maturing. A new bamboo plant is mature enough to harvest after three to six years, depending on the species. Most important, bamboo is renewable. Unlike hardwood trees, bamboo regrows after harvesting, just as grass regrows after cutting. After it is mature, bamboo can be harvested every single year for the life of the plant.

Bamboo has other advantages. Its roots grab onto soil and hold it fast. Plant bamboo on a steep slope or riverbank and it prevents mudslides and erosion. And bamboo is parsimonious with Africa’s most precious resource: water.

“In Africa you want everything,” said Dr. Chin Ong, a retired professor of environmental science at the University of Nottingham in England, who was formerly a senior scientist at the World Agroforestry Center in Nairobi. “You want firewood, you want to reduce erosion, to maintain the water supply, generate cash and employment. Bamboo comes the closest — it gives you the most things.”

In the last five years or so, Ong said, Ethiopia has realized that bamboo is a more profitable and greener solution. INBAR’s program is a four-year project financed by the European Commission and the Common Fund for Commodities, a United Nations organization. The technology comes from China. The project provides bamboo seedlings and trains people to manage bamboo plantations.

Because bamboo requires few nutrients, it can grow in soil inhospitable to other plants — not only does it thrive there, it can reclaim the land so other plants can thrive, too. Its roots leach heavy metals from the soil, hold the soil together and draw water closer to the surface. One example is a project in Allahabad, India, to reclaim land whose topsoil had been depleted by the brick industry. In 1996, an INBAR project planted the land with bamboo. Five years later, villagers could farm the land again. Dust storms — a local scourge — were greatly reduced. The bamboo also helped raise the water table by seven meters. In 2007, the project won the global Alcan Prize for Sustainability.

Bamboo's tensile strength makes it a good construction material, and it is also used for furniture, flooring and textiles, among other things.

In some ways, the challenge in Africa is not to introduce bamboo, but to persuade people and governments that it has commercial uses. “We’ve taken policymakers from Africa to China and India where bamboo used in everyday life — and there’s still very poor adoption,” said Ong.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by Tina Rosenberg of the New York Times. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO) 

 

  

Lamboo strives to protect and promote this remarkable resource by working with various international organizations to ensure that the bamboo used in our products is sourced from responsibly managed bamboo plantations and nurseries. Additionally all bamboo used for Lamboo products come from a select list of bamboo species that is not used as a food source by wildlife. If you want to learn more about Lamboo’s commitment to sustainability, please contact us here.

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison