Need some more convincing that bamboo is the tops? The super-grass can not only clothe, feed and shelter, but it can also save lives. In Vietnam, where major floods are common, H&P Architects have created affordable housing made from local bamboo that is constructed atop recycled oil drums, allowing the buildings to float. The thatched homes are attached to the ground with anchors, keeping them in place when the waters arrive. The frames, roofing, and walls are arranged between steel piles, securing the structure. The floor is elevated, keeping animals outside was well as allowing space for the drums. Triangular cuts open the up the dwelling, creating cross-breezes and taking advantage of natural light. Horizontal doors open to form patios and awnings, but can be shut once the storms sweep through, keeping the inhabitants safe. Suspended bamboo planters on the outside walls help grow vertical gardens that can be used for food, and rainwater collection systems that have the option of being inactivated during wet weather. Each home can be configured to accommodate families of six, or expanded for more people. Able to be assembled on site, each costs about $2,000.

In the event of an earthquake, like the one that struck Central China in May of 2008, the government found themselves in need of temporary shelters. Bamboo to the rescue! Featured in San Francisco’s Urban Re: Vision five years ago, Ming Tang designed the beautiful Folded Bamboo Houses in order to provide protection from the elements. Lightweight, strong, and readily available, the plant was the perfect material of choice for his origami-inspired buildings. Poles are connected together in rigid, geometric shapes, creating modular forms that can be easily shipped and assembled to where they are needed most. Once built, they are then covered by post-consumer recycled paper.

When both earthquakes and typhoons hit, bamboo has literally got you covered. A group of Indian architects made up of Komal Gupta, Vasanth Packirisamy, Vikas Sharma, Sakshi Kumar and Siripurapu Monish Kumar entered plans for the 2011 Design Against the Elements Competition that envisioned an eco-community that consisted of a cluster of housing units, community centers, a library, meditation spaces, and green areas. They also added locations for retail, rainwater collection, greywater systems, and plantations to make the project a vibrant mixed-use living neighborhood. The three-story houses were built on stilts with an element resistant core that holds water and power lines, bathrooms, kitchens, and staircases. Living pods rotate out from the core, made completely of bamboo.

It used to be that the biggest danger to your children from their toys was not being able to find their favorite plaything before bedtime or a long road trip.  Now, parents lose sleep over where action figures and stuffed animals are produced, whether the materials are safe, and what will happen to them once they reach the end of their life span.  Toys are supposed to be enjoyable, not objects of worry and anxiety!  Bamboo is an eco-friendly, non-toxic, and sustainable choice for fun.  Luckily, there are innovative and imaginative designers out there with our children’s entertainment and well being in mind.

- Israeli designers and Chinese manufacturers have teamed up to create safe bamboo toys for children.  The Hape Company and students at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Tel Aviv collaborated with traditional craftsmen to build rolling cars, garden sets, games, puzzles, and dolls.

- For the young artists out there, Rocking Frog makes a bamboo version of the classic spiral drawing toy.  Just the right size to fit into a backpack with a couple of crayons and a few sheets of recycled paper, the smooth bamboo tablet and wheel are hand-crafted in the United States.  The North Carolina builder also offers gorgeous rocking animals composed of bamboo plywood, and finished with with safe stains and seals.

- Bambu Batu is proud to carry (and shake) Dandelion Toys® Bamboo Zoo plush rattles, made from bamboo viscose and filled with corn stuffing.  Machine washable, they are free of harmful toxins, extremely soft, and made in the US.  Perfect for teething, coordination, and a snuggle, they are a great addition to your baby’s crib or stroller.

- When your baby is teething, it is of the utmost importance that they are chewing on something that is safe and free from harsh dyes and chemicals.  Opt for an organic knit blankie with teething ring from Baby Green Sprout for your little one to gnaw upon.  The ring is filled with sterilized water and can be cooled in the refrigerator to bring relief to sore gums.

Feel confident about your purchases!  Look for bamboo, reclaimed materials, safe dyes and sealants, and non-toxic materials!

Residents and visitors to San Francisco know that space is a highly valuable commodity.  Finding a parking space anywhere in the City by the Bay can be nothing short of a miracle, and owning a car feels more like a liability than an advantage.  Car shares such as Zipcar have become popular in recent years, allowing customers to pay a monthly fee to use vehicles on a trip-by-trip basis, letting someone else take care of maintenance, insurance, and garage space.

Now, for those looking for a more hip, compact form of transportation can rent a scooter from Scoot Networks for a fee that costs only slightly more than a MUNI pass.  Riders use their smartphones to locate the electric scooters in their area.  Once claimed, the phones sit in a special dock on the dashboard, unlocking the scooter and displaying information on speed, range, and direction.  Reaching top speeds of 20-30 mph, the scooters are perfect for short hops around the city, and have enough battery life to last for a work day before recharging back in their home parking spots.  (At the moment, scooters must be returned to their original pick-up points, but once the fleet expands, Scoot Networks hopes to facilitate more one-way jaunts.)  To rent a moped, California drivers do not need to obtain a special endorsement on their licenses, and the company plans on offering training for customers who are unfamiliar with operating the vehicles.

By taking advantage of China’s huge investment in electric vehicles, CEO Michael Keating has been able to benefit from the volume of moped production and pay only $1,000 per vehicle.  This relatively small price-tag will let Scoot Networks turn over its fleet every year so users can avoid worrying about mechanical problems due to wear.  Scoot Networks will begin by providing rides to private corporate clients before taking their service public by the end of the year.  Next time you visit the Land of Fog and Clam Chowder, look for the newest trend in city travel!