How to Wire Your Home with Bomboo - A Forgotten Green Alternative

As homeowners and green builders look for more sustainable ways to build and renovate homes, I've rediscovered an intriguing option that seems to have been forgotten over the years - bamboo wiring.

What is Bamboo Wiring?

Bamboo wiring refers to electrical wiring that uses bamboo culms rather than traditional plastic and metal. Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable grass that can be harvested every 3-5 years without the need to replant. The woody inner pith of bamboo culms provides a natural protective casing for electrical wiring.

In the early 1900s, bamboo wiring was seen as a cheaper, locally available alternative to imported copper wiring in some parts of the world like India and Brazil. However, it fell out of favor due to perceptions of fire risk and difficulty working with the material. But modern advances in fire retardant treatments and tooling mean bamboo wiring deserves another look for eco-conscious builders.

Benefits of Using Bamboo Wiring

• Sustainable: Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. It regenerates quickly without the need for fertilizers or pesticides.

• Renewable: New bamboo culms can be repeatedly harvested every 3-5 years from the same plants.

• Biodegradable: Bamboo will naturally biodegrade at the end of its lifespan, unlike plastics.

• Lower embodied energy: Bamboo requires less energy to produce than traditional building wire coatings like PVC and HDPE.

• Fire resistant: Properly treated bamboo has fire resistant properties comparable to standard electrical wiring coatings.

• Insulating: The bamboo casing provides a natural insulating layer around the conductive wiring inside.

• Aesthetic appeal: The natural look of bamboo wiring can add visual interest and a unique touch to your home's interior.

Sourcing Bamboo Wiring

Finding sources of bamboo wiring can be challenging since it remains a niche product. Here are a few options I've found:

• Specialty suppliers: A handful of green building outlets like GreenElectricalSupply.com and BambooMarket.com offer UL-certified bamboo wire sourced from China and Southeast Asia.

• Direct from manufacturers: Reaching out directly to manufacturers in China and India can reveal more options. The quality and code compliance may be less certain.

• DIY bamboo sourcing: If you have access to local bamboo, like Hawaiian bamboo, it may be possible to DIY bamboo wiring using tutorials online. But take care to properly treat and test it.

Working With Bamboo Wiring

Installing bamboo wiring takes a few adjustments from working with traditional building wiring:

• Wear gloves and eye protection to avoid slivers. Bamboo culms are sharper than plastic or rubber coated wires.

• Use manual wire stripping tools or drill bits specially designed for bamboo instead of typical wire strippers. The bamboo culm wall is thicker.

• Plan out junction boxes carefully. Bamboo wiring is stiffer than plastic coated wiring and more difficult to sharply bend.

• Apply fire retardant varnish or other treatments to improve fire resistance and electrical properties. Untreated bamboo has higher natural flammability.

• Use plastic wire nuts, ceramic fuses, and other standard electrical fittings to connect bamboo wire to fixtures and outlets.

Is Bamboo Wiring Right for Your Home?

While intriguing, bamboo wiring has some limitations:

• Availability: Sourcing UL certified bamboo wiring can be difficult depending on your location.

• Cost: Raw materials may be cheaper, but factory tooling for bamboo wiring remains limited, making retail cost higher.

• Skill required: Proper selection of bamboo species, sizing, treatments, and handling requires research and expertise.

• Building code compliance: Some local building codes may need updates to allow bamboo wiring, especially for larger than 15-20 amp capacity wire.

For most homes, standard building wire remains the easier choice. But if you want a unique way to add sustainable character to small, low voltage wiring projects, bamboo wiring can be an eco-friendly option. Talk to your electrician to see if it may be feasible for your particular home wiring project.

Sample Bamboo Wiring Projects

Here are a few example projects where bamboo wiring can add off-grid character:

• Low voltage landscape lighting - Use thin 14 or 12 gauge outdoor-rated bamboo wire to connect path lighting and garden accents.

• Cabin or workshop subpanel - Run 60-100 amp subpanel circuits from a main house panel using properly sized bamboo wiring.

• Interior accent lighting - Try bamboo lamp or pendant cord wiring for decorative touches. Keep runs short and use lower wattage bulbs.

• Audio speaker wiring - In dry indoor areas, bamboo speaker wire can substitute for up to 16 gauge copper wire over short runs.

Starting small helps build experience working with bamboo wiring. Over time, you may feel comfortable using it more extensively as an eco-friendly alternative.

Final Thoughts

As bamboo grows in popularity for flooring, furniture, and textiles, bamboo wiring offers another way to put this sustainable material to use in green building. With careful sourcing and handling, it can provide a decorative renewable wiring option. While not yet ready for wiring whole houses, bamboo wiring merits experimentation and helps shift thinking toward more biodegradable electrical systems. I'm excited to see bamboo wiring return as a greener wiring choice.