About Bamboo Blinds

Sustainable Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources being used in homes today. With the concerns of global warming many eco-conscious consumers have opted for a more “earth smart” way to furnish their homes. Bamboo blinds offer a stylish way to enhance your decor with the satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing your part to give back. But what makes bamboo such an attractive “earth smart” alternative to hardwood blinds?

Bamboo and Maturity
Let’s start with the amount of time it takes for hardwood trees to reach maturity. Many of us have an oak tree or a maple tree sitting in the back yard that has been there for years, from year to year it seems like it barely grows. In fact it will take an oak tree 80 – 120 years before it will reach maturity. When you compare this to bamboo, which takes just five to seven short years to mature, the obvious choice is bamboo. It can take well over a hundred years to replace a hardwood forest after it has been logged but only takes a few short years to regenerate a bamboo forest. With this being said bamboo is considered to be the fastest growing plant on earth, at times measured to grow over 48 inches in a single day and can grow to full height in a single growing season. Bamboo blinds offer an affordable solution to deforestation in North and South America.

Bamboo and the Atmosphere
By choosing bamboo blinds you are choosing to reduce your carbon footprint, literally. It has been estimated by the World Wild Fund that an acre of bamboo can store 6.88 metric tons of carbon per year. In comparison that’s 70% more than an acre of hardwoods. When the bamboo is used in flooring and household furnishings a treatment is applied that locks in the carbon for decades, not allowing it to escape into the atmosphere. Another fact that will help you breathe a little easier is that a bamboo plant can give off 35% more oxygen than a hardwood tree, providing a further benefit to you and the atmosphere.

Be Delighted
So if you are a responsible eco-conscious consumer, bamboo blinds are a great alternative to hardwood blinds. Bamboo grows ten times faster than hardwood and provides a much cleaner atmosphere and environment. Now you can breathe a fresh breath of air every time you enjoy your new bamboo blinds and be delighted that you made an “earth smart” selection.

By reading this article you will gain a wealth of information about bamboo and your new bamboo blinds. We are going to cover questions like: What is bamboo? Where does bamboo grow? What was bamboo used for in earlier cultures and what it is used for today? You will see your new bamboo blinds in a whole new light.

What is bamboo?
First lets chat a little bit about what bamboo is. Bamboo is a wood-like grass that grows on many different continents. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and can grow at speeds of over 2 feet a day. It prefers being close to water but not in the water, like dipping your toes but not your ankles. The growing season is in the spring and usually lasts any where from 40 to 60 days. At this point the bamboo reaches it’s mature height and girth growing from one foot to well over sixty-five feet depending on the variety. It still will be another four to seven years before the bamboo is made into your bamboo blinds as the grasses inside the stalk keep growing to provide a stronger more durable “wood”.

Where does bamboo grow?
Many consumers may be surprised to find that bamboo is not only native to Asia but species can also be found in North and South America, Australia, India and sub-Sahara Africa. Areas you will not find native bamboo include Canada, Europe and Antarctica.

A Little History…
In Asian cultures, the bamboo plants have been long known to have a certain enchantment about them. In order to ward off evil spirits the ancient Japanese people would put bamboo blinds on their windows and doorways. In India bamboo means friendship and in China it is seen as a symbol of long life.

Bamboo has had many uses over the last several centuries and was central to life in many cultures. Bamboo was used to build houses, furniture, window blinds, woven mats, sandals and clothing. It was also used in the construction of boats and bridges. In fact one such bridge in the Qian-Xian area of China is believed to have stood for over 2000 years, since before the time of Christ. Humans and animals also used bamboo shoots as a nutritious food source. Giant Pandas are still munching on bamboo today…

Modern Bamboo
In today’s modern world the list of uses for bamboo continues to grow. Not only are people using bamboo window blinds in their homes, they are using bamboo bed sheets, bamboo flooring, bamboo fencing, bamboo bath towels and of course bamboo clothing. Bamboo is often referred to as the most resourceful plant on earth and a will be a thriving player in the new “greener” planet we live on. Take part in this movement and shop the many bamboo products available online to you today, including bamboo blinds for your home.