Carbon Savings Calculator
Calculate the environmental impact of choosing reclaimed lumber over newly harvested timber. See the real difference your choices make.
Enter Your Project Details
One board foot = a piece 12" long x 12" wide x 1" thick. A typical room floor uses 300-500 board feet.
Different species have different densities and carbon profiles.
Project type affects waste factor and processing requirements.
Enter your project details
Fill in the form and click “Calculate My Impact” to see your environmental savings.
The Carbon Footprint of Lumber
The Problem with New Timber
The global construction industry accounts for roughly 38% of total energy-related CO2 emissions. Within that, the harvesting, processing, and transporting of new timber contributes significantly. When a tree is cut down, it stops absorbing carbon dioxide. The logging process itself requires heavy machinery running on fossil fuels. The timber then travels to mills for processing (more energy), then to distributors, then to your project site. Each step adds to the carbon cost.
How Reclaimed Lumber Changes the Equation
Reclaimed lumber short-circuits this cycle entirely. The wood already exists. It has already been harvested, milled, and dried decades (sometimes centuries) ago. By giving it a second life, we avoid the carbon cost of felling a new tree, processing raw timber, and the emissions from wood that would otherwise decompose in a landfill or be burned. The EPA estimates that wood in landfills generates methane as it decomposes — a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period.
The Numbers
New Lumber Production
- Harvesting: 1.1 kg CO2 per board foot
- Transportation to mill: 0.4 kg CO2/bf
- Milling and processing: 0.8 kg CO2/bf
- Kiln drying: 0.9 kg CO2/bf
- Distribution: 0.4 kg CO2/bf
- Total: ~3.6 kg CO2 per board foot
Reclaimed Lumber
- Salvage and deconstruction: 0.3 kg CO2/bf
- De-nailing and inspection: 0.1 kg CO2/bf
- Re-milling (if needed): 0.2 kg CO2/bf
- No kiln drying needed: 0.0 kg CO2/bf
- Local distribution: 0.2 kg CO2/bf
- Total: ~0.8 kg CO2 per board foot
Beyond Carbon: The Full Environmental Picture
Carbon emissions are just one piece of the puzzle. Choosing reclaimed lumber also conserves water (new timber processing uses approximately 5.4 gallons per board foot), preserves forest ecosystems and biodiversity, reduces soil erosion from logging roads, prevents landfill methane emissions, and maintains the carbon sequestration capacity of standing forests. When you factor in all of these benefits, the environmental case for reclaimed lumber is overwhelming.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Every board foot of reclaimed lumber is a step toward a more sustainable future. Let us help you build your next project the eco-friendly way.