New Report: Estimates of CO2 Withheld from Atmosphere by Urban Hardwood Products

In 2011 Dovetail Partners, Minneapolis, Minn., USA, conducted a study on the potential for carbon sequestration (storage) in three urban hardwood products: landscape mulch, biomass for fuel, and solid wood products. An Excel model was developed that focused specifically on tons of sequestered carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of solid hardwood products from urban forests in the U.S. Estimates for a 30-yr. period were developed for several situations based on assumptions about variations in carbon and wood harvest. The minimum estimate from the 2011 study was approximately 124 million tons of CO2e that could be sequestered (stored) nationally in urban hardwood products over a 30 yr. period.[1]

Beginning in 2016, a follow-up study reconstructed the national model developed in the previous investigation to convert tons of sequestered CO2e into board feet. In addition to making the results more user-friendly to urban wood industries, architects, and other interested parties, two products were selected, and sequestered CO2e was estimated. The hardwood products were a white oak dining room table and chairs, and green ash flooring.

 

 

At the national or macro-level, results of the current study show that a minimum or baseline estimate of approximately 53 billion board feet of urban hardwood lumber could be produced to sequester an equivalent of more than 124 million tons in CO2e during a 30-yr. period. The 30-yr. total is equal to an average of 1.8 billion board feet per year. The maximum (upper limit) realistic estimates are 105 billion board feet (during 30 years) and 3.5 billion board feet (annually). Both the minimum and maximum estimates are under the lower limits from two independent studies by Bratkovich (2001) and MacFarlane (2009).

At the local or micro-level, results illustrate that a white oak dining room table with 10 chairs (120 board feet) sequesters approximately 730 lb. of CO2e. Also, 105 board feet of green ash flooring sequesters 535 lb. of CO2e. These examples demonstrate the capacity for determining the carbon footprint of specific urban forest products. The white oak table and chairs, plus the flooring, results in a total CO2e weight of 1,265 lb. This combination equals the CO2 emissions from a typical four-stroke gas-powered lawn mower for 14 years. 

[1] Two reports based on this study are available from Dovetail Partners, Inc. The one dated July, 2011, titled "Carbon and Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Sequestration in Urban Forest Products" by Sam Sherrill and Steve Bratkovich is more of a technical report for those interested in the details of the Excel model. Available online. The one dated July 19, 2011, titled "Carbon Sequestration in Solid Wood Products from Urban Forests" by Steve Bratkovich, Sam Sherrill, Jeff Howe, Kathryn Fernholz, Sarah Stai, and Jim Bowyer is for an audience less interested in technical details and more in the broader implications of the findings. Available online.

The work upon which this publication is based was funded in whole or in part through a grant awarded by the Wood Education and Resource Center, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service.

Read the full report.