Calculation methodology
for CO2 calculator
The Almighty Tree carbon calculator enables you to calculate carbon emissions in everyday life.
We take the emission factors for the calculation from a recognized scientific database and update them frequently.
The module "Travel" calculates carbon emissions resulting from the use of flight, public transport, and cars. For flights, the calculation model includes direct emissions from combustion. For cars, the calculation is carried out with average consumption, fuel type, and car type. For public transportation, the data is collected from CFF and an average (electric/fuel) calculation is made for the bus.
Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the manufacture of the vehicle are not considered.
The module "Home" calculates carbon emissions to heat houses, offices and warehouses according to the number of users for individuals and globally for companies. In addition, electricity usage is taken into consideration. We use scientific data from Swiss and European sources.
The module "Consumption" calculates carbon emissions based on expenses per year, it includes paper used by companies and food diet for individuals as carbon emissions vary according to people’s diet.
An essential benefit of trees is that they sequester carbon "removal and long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) from our atmosphere".
Almighty Tree estimates that the trees planted sequester CO2 at an average of 260 kg over a tree’s lifetime. We take into consideration the survival rate, the discrepancy between CO2 absorption and tree types as well different lifetime. Thus, a lower average is calculated and selected.
Example of carbon sequestration in tree
The rate of carbon sequestration relies upon the development qualities of the tree species, the thickness of its wood, the area's conditions for development and the plant phase of the tree.
Determine the total (green) weight of the tree
Depending on the tree species,2 a simple algorithm can be applied to weigh any tree species as below
W = Above–ground weight of the tree in pounds
D = Diameter of the trunk in inches
H = Height of the tree in feet
1 Acre = 0.4 Hectare
Determine the weight of carbon in the tree
The average carbon content is generally 50% of the tree’s total volume.3 Therefore, in determining the weight of carbon in the tree, multiply the dry weight of the tree by 50%.
Determine the weight of carbon dioxide sequestered in the tree
Chemical composition of CO2 means and that composed of one molecule of Carbon and 2 molecules of Oxygen. The atomic weight of Carbon is 12.001. The atomic weight of Oxygen is 15.99. In line with the documentaries of 4,5 the weight of CO2 in trees is determined by the ratio of CO2 is C+2*O = 43.99 to C is 43.99/12.001 = 3.6663 therefore, to determine the weight of carbon dioxide sequestered in the tree, multiply the weight of carbon in the tree by 3.6663.
Northeast, maple–beech–birch forests
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25 year old forest: 5'443 kg of carbon/25 = 217 kg of C per acre per year x 44/12 = 798 kg of CO2 per acre per year
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120 year old forest: 58'059 kg of carbon/120 = 488 kg of C per year per acre x 44/12 = 1'773 kg of CO2 per acre per year
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25 year old forest: 798 kg of CO2 per acre per year/700 trees = average of 1,14 kg of CO2 per tree per year
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120 year old forest: 1'773 kg of CO2 per year per acre = average of 2,53 kg of CO2 per tree per year
Northeast, white and red pine forests
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25 year old forest: 30'390 kg of carbon/25 = 1'215 kg of C per acre per year x 44/12 = 4'456 kg of CO2 per acre per year / 700 = average of 7 kg of CO2 per year per tree
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120 year old forest: 111'583 kg of carbon/120 = 929 kg of C per acre per year x 44/12 = 3'409 kg of CO2 per acre per year / 700 = average of 5,3 kg of CO2 per year per tree.
Sources:
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Toochi EC. Carbon sequestration: how much can forestry sequester CO2?. Forest Res Eng Int J. 2018;2(3):148-150. DOI: 10.15406/freij.2018.02.00040
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Sampson N, Hair D. Forests and Global Change: Forest management opportunities for mitigating carbon emissions. USA: American Forests; 1996.