Carbon Footprint and Ecosystem Services During the Life Cycle of Landscape Plants

Transcription

1 Carbon Footprint and Ecosystem Services During the Life Cycle of Landscape Plants Dewayne L. Ingram, PhD Professor of Horticulture Nursery Crop Production

2 Summary of scientific basis for role of CO 2 in global warming Human activity is emitting large amounts of CO 2 CO 2 concentration in atmosphere is increasing CO 2 and other greenhouse gases traps thermal radiation

3

4 Greenhouse Gas Emissions have Global Warming Potentials, GWP The GWP of CO 2 is set at 1 The GWP of N 2 O is 296 The GWP of CH 4 is 23

5 IPCC. FAQ Atmospheric concentrations of important greenhouse gases

6

7 O 2 CO 2

8 Life Cycle Assessment: A research tool to determine environmental impact of products and processes

9

10 Global warming potential of greenhouse gases emissions (kg CO 2 equivalent)

11 a few reported carbon footprints complete life cycle Six-pack of beer kg CO 2 e Gallon jug of milk 3.4 kg CO 2 e Timberland winter boots kg CO 2 e 2-Liter bottle of Coca Cola 0.5 kg CO 2 e ½-gallon carton of orange juice 1.7 kg CO 2 e

12 Production of Trees and Shrubs 2011 Red Maple 2012 Colorado Blue Spruce Redbud Field-grown shrubs 2015 Pot-in-pot 2016 Container-grown shrubs

13 Inventory the System Life Cycle Inventory Every material used Every chemical used Each equipment use Energy inputs Labor inputs

14 Red Maple

15

16

17

18 Field Production Phase

19 Relative GWP of input materials and equipment use during 2-in caliper, red maple field production phase (kg CO 2 e / tree) Preparation & Planting

20 Transport and Transplanting of Tree Transport 240 miles to customer, 100 trees/load Transport another 20 miles to the landscape site (10% of load) Tractor with boom positioned the tree for transplanting

21 Red Maple, 2 caliper, B&B Cutting to landscape Liner and transplanting Weed Control Harvest

22 Redbud

23

24

25

26

27 Redbud Field Production Input Material Product/A Product per marketable tree (kg) GWP (kg CO 2 e / kg) GWP per marketable tree (kg CO 2 e) Sudex seed Pre-plant Ag lime Fertilizer ( ) Bambo stake Fescue in middles Wire basket (cnt) Trunk protector (cnt) Transplant (cnt)

28 Redbud Field Production Input Material Product/A Product per marketable tree (kg) GWP (kg CO 2 e / kg) GWP per marketable tree (kg CO 2 e) Sudex seed Pre-plant Ag lime Fertilizer ( ) Bambo stake Fescue in middles Wire basket (cnt) Trunk protector (cnt) Transplant (cnt)

29 Redbud Field Production Input Material Product/A Product per marketable tree (kg) GWP (kg CO 2 e / kg) GWP per marketable tree (kg CO 2 e) Sudex seed Pre-plant Ag lime Fertilizer ( ) Bambo stake Fescue in middles Wire basket (cnt) Trunk protector (cnt) Transplant (cnt)

30 Redbud Field Production Input Material Product/A Product per marketable tree (kg) GWP (kg CO 2 e / kg) GWP per marketable tree (kg CO 2 e) Sudex seed Pre-plant Ag lime Fertilizer ( ) Bambo stake Fescue in middles Wire basket (cnt) Trunk protector (cnt) Transplant (cnt)

31 Redbud Field Production Product/A Active ingredient per marketable tree (kg) GWP (kg CO 2 e / kg a.i.) GWP per martketable tree (kgco 2 e) Surflan Goal Roundup (glyphosate) Bifendrin Discus

32 Redbud Field Production fuel per marketable tree (Gal) GWP (kg CO 2 ) per marketable tree Equipment Use hrs/a hrs per marketable tree Chisel plow Disk (2 times) Apply Ag lime Seed sudex Plow Rototill Transport liners to field Transplant liners Sow fescue in middles Stakes to field Irrigation Apply fertilizer (3 yr) Cultivate (4 times in 3 yr) Apply herbicide (3 yr) Apply Glyphosate (3yr) Apply insecticides (3 yr) Mow (3 yr) Digging with tree spade Loading in field Hauling from the field Unloading and loading Removal of culls Haul culls from field

33 Redbud Field Production fuel per marketable tree (Gal) GWP (kg CO 2 ) per marketable tree Equipment Use hrs/a hrs per marketable tree Chisel plow Disk (2 times) Apply Ag lime Seed sudex Plow Rototill Transport liners to field Transplant liners Sow fescue in middles Stakes to field Irrigation Apply fertilizer (3 yr) Cultivate (4 times in 3 yr) Apply herbicide (3 yr) Apply Glyphosate (3yr) Apply insecticides (3 yr) Mow (3 yr) Digging with tree spade Loading in field Hauling from the field Unloading and loading Removal of culls Haul culls from field

34 Relative GWP of input materials and equipment use during redbud field production phase (seed-to-gate) (kg CO 2 e / tree)

35 Redbud Transport & transplant Transport to customer Sequestered CO2 Field production inputs Transport to nursery Liner inputs

36 Redbud Transport & transplant Transport to customer Sequestered CO2 Field production inputs Transport to nursery Liner inputs

37 Redbud Transport & transplant Transport to customer Sequestered CO2 Field production inputs Transport to nursery Liner inputs

38 Redbud Transport & transplant Transport to customer Sequestered CO kg CO 2 -e Field production inputs Transport to nursery Liner inputs

39 Collaboration with Dr. Charlie Hall

40 Relative GWP of input materials and equipment use during redbud field production phase (seed-to-gate) (kg CO 2 e / tree)

41 Relative cost of materials, labor and equipment use during redbud field production ($) Removing Culls, Overhead, Fallow year, Prep & Planting, Loading & Unloading, Liner, 12 Harvest, Insect Control, Staking & Training, Weed Control, Irrigation, Fertility,

42 Farm-Gate GWP and Variable Costs of field-grown trees are closely related Primarily due to equipment use

43 so what can be addressed by what if using the models

44 What if. for redbud it took 4 years in the field vs 3 years Increase cutting-tolandscape carbon footprint by 4% to 14.1 kg CO e 2 Add $0.77 to the cost of each tree

45 What if. for redbud the cull rate was 15% instead of 10% Increase seed-to-gate carbon footprint by 9% or kg CO 2 e Add $1.42 to the cost of each tree

46 What if. for redbud reduce fertilizer by 1/3 Decrease cutting-tolandscape carbon footprint by kg CO 2 e Reduce cost $0.28

47 Transport and Transplanting of Tree Transport 240 miles to customer, 120 trees/load Transport another 20 miles to the landscape site Tractor with boom positioned the tree for transplanting

48 What if. for redbud Product shipping distance was reduced by 1/3 to 160 miles Decrease cutting-to-landscape carbon footprint by 16% to 11.4 kg CO e 2 Save $2.60 per tree

49 What if. for redbud Transported tree to landscape 40 miles instead of 20 miles Increase cutting-to-landscape carbon footprint by 17% to 16 kg CO e 2 Cost by $1.87 per tree

50 What if. for redbud Transported 100 trees / load to landscaper instead of 120 Increase cutting-to-landscape carbon footprint by 5% to 14.5 kg CO e 2 Cost by $1 per tree

51 Model System Assumptions: Use Phase Transplanted to a favorable suburban site 60 years of useful life for Red Maple 40 years of useful life for Redbud Will take-up CO 2 and store C as wood CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator

52 It was assumed there was no specific investment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions during the maintenance of the tree in a suburban residence

53 Weighted CO2 sequestration (kg CO2) Red Maple CO 2 sequestration during use phase Years

54 Weighted CO2 sequestered (kg CO2) Redbud CO 2 sequestration during use phase Years

55 Model System Assumptions: Take down and disposal Travel 24 miles in heavy truck Use chain saw 3.5 hours for Red Maple and 1 hour for Redbud Use 140 hp chipper 2 hours for Red Maple and 0.5 hours for Redbud 120 hp chipper Chips hauled to site for municipal use as mulch Data based on interviews with certified arborists

56 Red Maple Take down & disposal Use Phase Sequestered CO2 Transport & transplant -655 kg CO 2 e Transport to customer Sequestered CO2 Field production inputs Sequestered CO2 Transport to nursery Liner inputs

57 Redbud Take down & disposal Use Phase Sequestered CO2-65 kg CO 2 e Transport & transplant Transport to customer Sequestered CO2 Field production inputs Transport to nursery Liner inputs

58 Tree Species and Field Production System Comparisons Red Maple Redbud Liner - inputs Liner - equipment use Liner transport Liner nursery overhead Field Production - inputs Field Production - equipment use Field nursery overhead Sequestered C in production Transport to landscaper Transport to site & transplant Use phase sequestered C Take down & disposal Net Positive Life Cycle Impact All units: Global Warming Potential (GWP) in kg CO 2 equivalents

59 50% of an individual tree or shrub s dry biomass is carbon, sequestered from the atmosphere via photosynthesis. Landscape Plant kg CO2 Red maple tree Acer rubrum 655 Evergreen tree Picea pungens 430 Flowering deciduous tree Cercis canadensis 63 Deciduous shrub Viburnum spp. 11 Evergreen shrub Taxus spp. 9 Reduced global warming impact of above ground growth plant s life expectancy, after accounting for emissions during production and take down at end of life. Below ground, long term sequestration in soil not quantified at this time, but may be substantial for some plants. Image: US Forest Service

60

61 Relative GWP of red maple PIP production components in a #25 container (cutting-to-gate) (kg CO 2 e / tree) Insect Control Harvest Loading for shipment Overhead Staking & training Fertilization Irrigation Transport to the field System Installation Substrate

62 2-inch caliper red maple tree Pot-in-Pot Production Field Production Component GWP (kg CO 2 e) Variable Cost ($) Component GWP (kg CO 2 e) Variable Cost ($) Rooted cutting stage $ Liner stage $ PIP nursery stage $ Rooted cutting stage $ Liner stage $ Field Production stage $ TOTAL - farm gate GWP & Cost $ TOTAL - farm gate GWP & Cost $ Postharvest stage Transport tree to customer $ Transport tree to landscape $ Planting in the landscape $ Subtotal - postharvest stage $ Postharvest stage Transport tree to customer $ Transport tree to landscape $ Planting in the landscape $ Subtotal - postharvest stage $ TOTAL cutting to landscape $ TOTAL cutting to landscape $

63 Potential environmental impacts that can be modeled using LCA Global warming potential kg CO 2 eq Ozone depletion kg CFC-11 eq Smog kg O 3 eq Acidification kg SO 2 eq Eutrophication kg N eq Carcinogenic human toxicity Non-carcinogenic human toxicity Respiratory effects kg PM2.5 eq Ecotoxicity CTUe Fossil fuel depletion MJ surplus CTUh CTUh

64 What are Ecosystem Services? ecosystem services = benefits provided to human from ecosystems. Landscapes / built environment primarily concerned with regulating and cultural services provided by plants in landscape. Thanks to Josh Knight, Extension Associate

65 Regulating services Air Quality Human Health Biodiversity Potential / Wildlife Habitat Carbon Sequestration Energy Conservation and Microclimate Regulation Noise Reduction Stormwater management

66 Summary of human health and well-being benefits of Green Infrastructure Source: M. Ely and S. Pitman 2014

67 Microclimates and Energy Conservation Shade patterns shift daily and seasonally

68 Suburbs with trees: Air 4-6 degrees cooler Schoolyards with trees: Air 20 degrees cooler 1 Properly watered tree can evaporate-transpire 40 gallons of water each day: offsetting heat equivalent from 100x 100 watt lamps burning for 8 hours.

69

70 Noise Reduction Cities are loud Constant exposure to city traffic sounds can cause hearing damage! Decibel is a logarithmic unit: small unit increases or decreases are more noticeable at higher levels

71 More layers reduce louder noises. Source: Georgia Forestry Commission

72 Plant materials help attenuate sound and calm the noise. Some types of plants are better at performing this function than others. Efficient trees and shrubs have thick, waxy leaves, dense evergreen foliage, and branches that extend to the ground. - Georgia Forestry Commission

73 Stormwater Management

74 Impervious Surfaces cause Stormwater Runoff

75 Problems with runoff: Toxic! Metals, animal waste, pathogens. Gravelly/Sandy soils allow rapid infiltration of stormwater, can contaminate ground water. Leading cause of water pollution in urban creeks/waterways. Impaired habitat for fish / wildlife.

76 Grey infrastructure is at risk during peak events. Green infrastructure flattens these peaks by slowing runoff during and after rainfall events. Green infrastructure improves the capacity of existing grey infrastructure, saving public funds.

77 Cultural Services Aesthetic, Recreation and Cultural values difficult to quantify, though Property Values representative 150% return on investment of 8-10% of the value of the property is conservative John Gidding, HGTV s Curb Appeal

78 Monetary credit for carbon sequestration in our future Sequestered carbon has monetary credits in a carbon market. According to a Bloomberg Business Report, the August, 2015 value for off-setting carbon dioxide equivalents was $662 per ton. The weighted 655 kg CO 2 (0.7 tons) sequestered by a red maple tree during its life cycle would have a value of $463. We don t have a functioning market yet for carbon credits!

79 Summary i-tree Lexington Over 20 years, a single red maple planted in 2015 located ~25 from the southwest corner of a climate controlled structure in Lexington, KY will Save $143 in winter heating costs Save $210 in summer cooling costs Intercept 44,028 gallons of water Saving the community $273 in stormwater reduction costs Save $18 in air quality improvement upgrades Reduce contributions to atmospheric carbon by 9,766 lbs through sequestration and decreased energy production needs. Cumulative tree benefit forecast for a properly sited red maple planted in (Lexington, KY) Source: i-tree Design itreetools.org Total Value Added: >$700

80 Summary i-tree Gainesville Over 20 years, a single red maple planted in 2016 located ~25 from the western face of a climate controlled structure in Gainesville, FL will Save $20 in winter heating costs Save $511 in summer cooling costs Intercept 39,271 gallons of water Saving the community $238 in stormwater reduction costs Save $26 in air quality improvement upgrades Reduce contributions to atmospheric carbon by 11,191 lbs through sequestration and decreased energy production need. Cumulative tree benefit forecast for a properly sited red maple planted in (Gainesville, FL) Source: i-tree Design itreetools.org Total Value Added: >$900