Potential of Bamboo as Green Building Element
Introduction:
The necessity for adopting sustainability and sustainable growth within the construction sector may be addressed using green building, which is a successful strategy. Many parties all around the globe have embraced green building as a tactic for enhancing the sustainability of the construction sector. Compared to conventional buildings, green buildings demonstrate a substantial reduction in energy consumption, potential reductions in water consumption and play a crucial role in resource efficiency. They also have elements that promote an eco-friendly atmosphere and the effective use of water and energy. The structures integrate effective use of landscape and interior air quality improvements for health and comfort. They also employ renewable energy and recyclable materials.
Green building, sometimes referred to as sustainable building, is a construction technique that uses environmentally friendly and resource-efficient procedures over the entirety of a building’s life cycle, from design to demolition. Although green building has recently received increasing attention, there are still obstacles in the way of its general acceptance.
Bamboo as green elements in construction:
Bamboo is increasingly recognized as an eco-friendly building material due to its rapid growth, sustainability, and versatile applications in construction. Bamboo is a rapidly growing material with significant mechanical strength, making it suitable for various engineering and construction applications. Its mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, are comparable to traditional materials like steel, which allows it to be used as structural reinforcement in concrete beams, offering a sustainable alternative to steel.
Besides, bamboo fibers can be used to create eco-friendly composites with excellent mechanical properties and thermal resistance. These composites are developed using environmentally friendly binders, such as silylated polystyrene, which enhance the ecological purity of the material. Furthermore, the use of bamboo in architectural applications not only leverages its mechanical and thermal properties but also its renewable nature and efficient manufacturing process, aligning with sustainable development goals.
Structure Elements:
Bamboo poles or laminated bamboo beams can be used as load-bearing elements in construction. They provide vertical and horizontal support, distributing the weight of the building. Either used in traditional or modern structures, bamboo beams, and columns are normally integral to the framework of houses, pavilions, and other structures. Recent studies have explored various applications and enhancements of bamboo in construction, focusing on its potential to improve structural performance and sustainability. A systematic literature review by Bahrin et al. (2023) highlights the mechanical properties of bamboo, focusing on species like Dendrocalamus asper and Gigantochloa levis. The review underscores the variability in mechanical properties due to factors such as origin, age, and moisture content. This study provides a foundation for further research and application of bamboo in construction, emphasizing its potential as a structural material. Another study by Ummati et al., (2023) explored using bamboo with perpendicular pivot hooks in concrete beams, demonstrating a 33% improvement in load capacity. This suggests that specific configurations of bamboo reinforcement can significantly enhance the flexural capacity of concrete beams.
Conclusion:
The main concern of this study is to identify the components of green building uses bamboo as a green material. Bamboo was found to be widely used for various components such as for flooring, walls, roofs, and structure elements. The result shows that bamboo materials are mostly used as flooring in a building construction as it is more ecologically friendly and sustainable option compared to other types of flooring. Bamboo also known for being hardwearing and comparable in strength to timber flooring, which can make it easier to handle and install without the risk of excessive damage. Besides, bamboo materials also are mostly implemented for the wall construction. Bamboo walls are flexible and lightweight, making them suitable for areas prone to earthquakes. While, bamboo materials as foundation were found to be less implemented maybe as it is more vulnerable to decay, rot, and insect infestation, especially when in direct contact with soil and moisture, making it less reliable for long-term structural support. However, this study shows the implementation of bamboo materials contribute to sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and versatility and make it an attractive alternative to conventional building materials like timber, steel, and concrete.