Carbon Storage and Low Energy Intensity in Harvested Wood Products. Jim Bowyer Dovetail Partners, Inc. Minneapolis, MN

Carbon Storage and Low Energy Intensity in Harvested Wood Products Jim Bowyer Dovetail Partners, Inc. Minneapolis, MN

Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Proximate analysis of wood Carbon storage in forests Carbon storage in HWP Estimating rates of carbon liberation The avoided emissions issue Various approaches to dealing with carbon in HWP Summary 2

Proximate Analysis of Wood

Species Ash C H O N % % % % % Douglas Fir 0.80 52.30 6.30 40.50 0.10 Hickory 0.73 47.67 6.49 43.11 0.00 Maple 1.35 50.64 6.02 41.74 0.25 Ponderosa Pine 0.29 49.25 5.99 44.36 0.06 Western Hemlock 2.20 50.40 5.80 41.10 0.10 Yellow Pine 1.31 52.60 7.00 40.10 0.00 White Fir 0.25 49.00 5.98 44.75 0.05 White Oak 1.52 49.48 5.38 43.13 0.35 BARK Proximate Analysis of Wood Douglas Fir bark 1.20 56.20 5.90 36.70 0.00 Loblolly Pine bark 0.40 56.30 5.60 37.70 0.00 Source: Biomass Energy Foundation (2009) (http://www.woodgas.com/proximat.htm) 4

Carbon Storage in Forests

Carbon Dioxide Implications of Forest Growth and Wood Use Tree growth sequesters considerable quantities of carbon: Dry wood is 49-51% by weight carbon. Carbon is stored in the soil, the litter, and in the trunks, branches, twigs, leaves, and roots of trees. 6

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks in Soil, Forest Litter, and Standing Trees After Afforestation 300 CumlulativeCarbon (tc/ha) 250 200 150 100 50 0 Trees Litter Soil 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Time (Years) Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999). 7

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation 250 Trees Litter Soil Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999). 8

Carbon Storage in Harvested Wood Products

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation Trees Litter Soil Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999). 10

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999). 11

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999) 12

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2009) Carbon Sequestered in U.S. Forest Lands and Harvested Wood Pools, 2007 2007 Total = 910.1 63.5 36.9 Million Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent 452.4 452.4 Above Ground Biomass Below Ground Biomass Dead Wood Litter Soil Organic Carbon 158.9 70.8 36.8 90.7 Wood Products Wood in Solid Waste Disposal Sites

Carbon Contained in Harvested Wood Products So, the carbon contained within harvested wood products is roughly equivalent to 11 percent of that stored within the nation s forests (when wood within landfills is counted). However, the carbon sequestered within harvested wood products in any one year can be a much larger percentage of net carbon additions. Consider Ontario...

Projected Change in Carbon Stocks in Ontario s s Forests, 2000-2100 2100 Million metric tons of carbon Source: Colombo, S., Chen, J., and Ter-Milkaelian, M. 2007. 15

Estimating Rates of Carbon Liberation

Estimated Wood Products Longevity U.S. Half lives for end uses (years) 1 family homes (pre-1980) 80 1 family homes(post-1980) 100 Multifamily homes 70 Mobile homes 20 Nonresidential construction 67 Pallets 6 Manufacturing 12 Furniture 30 Railroad ties 30 Paper (free sheet) 6 Paper (other) 1 Wood and paper in SWDS Fraction that decays Solid wood 3% Newsprint 16% Coated paper 18% Boxboard 32% Office Paper 38% Half life for portion that decays 20 years USDA (2004), Harvested Wood Products in the U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: 17 Methodology and Accounting.

Disposition of Carbon in Harvested Wood - U.S. Average Removals Emissions Source: Heath and others (1996); Skog and Nicholson (1998) as reported in USDA (2004), Harvested Wood Products in the U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: ntory: Methodology 18and Accounting.

The Avoided Emissions Issue

Avoided Emissions Low Energy Intensity/Fossil Fuel Intensity Carbon Storage 20

Avoided Emissions Low Energy Intensity/Fossil Fuel Intensity 21

Net Carbon Emissions in Producing 1/ 2/ a Ton of: Material Net Carbon Emissions (kg C/metric ton) Framing lumber 33 Medium density fiberboard (virgin fiber) 60 Brick 88 Glass 154 Recycled steel (100% from scrap) 220 Concrete 265 Concrete block 291 Recycled aluminum (100% recycled content) 309 Steel (virgin) 694 Plastic 2,502 Aluminum (virgin) 4,532 1/ Values are based on life cycle assessment and include gathering and processing of raw materials, primary and secondary processing, and transportation. 2/ Source: USEPA (2006). 22

Results of a Life-Cycle Inventory of a Large Office Building Construction Total Energy Use* Above Grade Energy Use* CO 2 Emissions** Wood 3.80 2.15 73 Steel 7.35 5.20 105 Concrete 5.50 3.70 132 * GJ x 10 3 ** kg x 10 3 Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (1997). 23

Consumption of Fossil Fuels (MJ/ft 2 ) Associated with Three Dimension lumber wood joist floor Floor Designs Concrete slab floor Steel joist floor Total 9.93 24.75 48.32 Source: Edmonds and Lippke (2004). 24

Total Consumption of Fossil Fuels (MJ/ft 2 ) Associated with Two Exterior Wall Designs in a Warm Climate Home Building Element Type of Exterior Wall Lumber- Framed Wall Concrete Wall Structural components 6.27 75.89 Insulation 8.51 8.51 Cladding 22.31 8.09 Total 37.09 92.49 Source: Edmonds and Lippke (2004). 25

Avoided Emissions Carbon Storage 26

Net Carbon Emissions in Producing a Ton of: 1/ 2/ Material Net Carbon Emissions (kg C/metric ton) Net Carbon Emissions Including Carbon Storage Within Material (kg C/metric ton) 3/ Framing lumber 33-457 Medium density fiberboard (virgin fiber) 60-382 Brick 88 88 Glass 154 154 Recycled steel (100% from scrap) 220 220 Concrete 265 265 Concrete block 291 291 Recycled aluminum (100% recycled content) 309 309 Steel (virgin) 694 694 Plastic 2,502 1,376 Aluminum (virgin) 4,532 4,532 1/ Values are based on life cycle assessment and include gathering and processing of raw materials, primary and secondary processing, and transportation. 2/ Source: USEPA (2006). 3/ A carbon content of 49% is assumed for wood. 27

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999) 28

Cumulative Changes in Carbon Stocks with Afforestation and Subsequent Harvest After 40 Year Rotation t Carbon Source: Marland and Schlamadinger (1999) 29

Carbon Implications of Forest Management and Use of HWP Source: CORRIM (2009). 30

Carbon Implications of Forest Management and Use of HWP When Wood is Used in Place of Some Concrete in Construction Source: Perez-Garcia, J., B. Lippke, J. Comnick, and C. Manriquez. 200531

Various Approaches to Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products

Various Approaches to Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Kyoto Protocol/ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Voluntary Carbon Registries - Chicago Climate Exchange - California Climate Action Reserve - American Carbon Registry

Approaches to Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products - Kyoto IPCC default assumes all harvested wood decays (oxidizes) in the year of harvest (but does allow for accounting for increasing stocks of HWP if it can be demonstrated). Stock change accounts for gain/loss in forest carbon, gain/loss in HWP carbon in nation where gain/loss occurs.

Approaches to Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products - Kyoto Production accounts for gain/loss in forest carbon, gain/loss in HWP carbon, but all credits go to the producing country. Atmospheric flow Accounts for flows to/ from atmosphere where they occur (i.e. sequestration credits go to country in which wood is grown. Debits (losses) go to country in which wood is used/deteriorates).

Source: Brown, Lim, and Schlamadiner (1998) IPCC Default Approach Net Forest growth Slash System boundary Wood production National boundary Stock change = net forest growth slash wood production

Source: Brown, Lim, and Schlamadiner (1998) Stock Change Approach Net Forest growth Slash System boundary Wood production Decomposition/combustion of wood consumed Domestic consumption Exports National boundary Imports Stock change = net forest growth slash wood production + wood consumption decomposition/combustion of wood consumed

Source: Brown, Lim, and Schlamadiner (1998) Net Forest growth Production Approach Slash System boundary Wood production Decomposition/combustion of wood consumed Domestic consumption Exports National boundary Imports Stock change = net forest growth slash wood production + (wood production decomposition/combustion of wood consumed)

Source: Brown, Lim, and Schlamadiner (1998) Atmospheric Flow Approach Net Forest growth Slash System boundary Wood production Decomposition/combustion of wood consumed Exports National boundary Stock change = net forest growth slash decomposition/combustion of wood consumed Imports

Various Approaches to Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Kyoto Protocol/ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Voluntary Carbon Registries - Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) - California Climate Action Reserve (CAR) - American Carbon Registry (ACR)

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the CCX Program (for forest offset providers) The quantity of long-lived wood products to be included in the determination of net carbon stock changes will be the fraction of carbon in long-lived wood products in use and in landfills at the end of 100 years. Each CCX member shall maintain readily accessible records containing data, calculations, conversion factors, spreadsheets, and other information that provide the basis for substantiating reports of carbon stored on longlived wood products.

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the CCX Program CCX members registering carbon in long-lived wood products will not be required to maintain an escrow in the forest carbon reserve pool for the quantity of credits from the long-lived portion of their total forest carbon.

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the CCX Program (for commercial forest companies) The member must provide on an annual basis, third-party verified information documenting the quantity of long-lived wood products produced under each product category. The wood product to carbon conversion factors will be based on prescribed default product utilization coefficients presented in the CCX product calculator. Members may include in their calculation longlived wood products produced from purchased wood (as long as carbon rights are transferred and forests of origin are certified).

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the CAR Program The quantity of long-lived wood products to be included in the determination of net carbon stock changes will be the fraction of carbon in long-lived wood products in use and in landfills at the end of 100 years (based on CAR carbon calculators). Includes accounting for carbon stored within wood products in landfills (if harvesting in any one year below historical baseline). Recognizes the avoided emissions issue, but does not include it within the protocol. Baseline calculations recognize the potential for leakage from not producing forest products.

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the CAR Program Determine the amount of carbon in harvested wood products delivered to mills. Account for mill efficiencies. Determine quantity of carbon contained within long-lived products. Estimate average carbon storage over 100-year period in products in use for various product categories. Estimate average carbon storage over 100-year period in landfills for various product categories.

Accounting for Carbon in Harvested Wood Products Within the ACR Program Wood products must be accounted for in the IFM scenario. For wood products ACR accepts and encourages the approach of considering all stocks still in use or landfilled after 100 years to be permanently sequestered, with the balance considered an intermediate emission. If an IFM project reduces the production of wood products beyond the deminimus threshold, the project must apply project leakage provisions. If timber products would have been produced as a result of deforestation, market effects leakage must be considered.

Summary

Summary There is a substantial volume of carbon in HWP, and that volume is steadily increasing. Carbon in HWP needs to be included in carbon accounting protocols. No less significant, the energy intensity of wood products is low compared to other materials, resulting in avoided emissions. This reality should be considered in development of national carbon policy. 50

Summary So far under Kyoto negotiations, carbon storage within HWP is not recognized. Several voluntary carbon management programs, including the CCX and CAR, do account for carbon contained within HWP. No program to date accounts for the reality of avoided carbon. 51