Carbon Savings Calculator
Every board foot of reclaimed lumber you choose instead of new lumber saves trees, reduces carbon emissions, conserves water, and keeps material out of landfills. Use this calculator to see the exact impact of your project.
Step 1
Enter the number of board feet you plan to use, or select a preset project size below. Not sure about board feet? Check our size guide.
Your Impact
You would save the following compared to using newly harvested and milled lumber:
How It Works
These calculations are based on published research comparing the lifecycle environmental impacts of reclaimed lumber versus newly harvested and milled lumber. The numbers represent averages across common North American softwood and hardwood species.
The CO2 savings figure of approximately 5.6 pounds per board foot accounts for the full lifecycle: the carbon sequestered in a standing tree that would otherwise be harvested, the fossil fuels used in logging operations, the energy consumed in sawmill processing, the transportation from forest to mill to retailer, and the methane emissions from lumber decomposing in a landfill.
Water savings reflect the water consumed in tree growth, harvesting operations, log processing, and sawmill operations for new lumber production. Energy savings represent the total electrical and fossil fuel energy used in the new lumber supply chain. Landfill savings are based on the volume of lumber diverted from the waste stream.
Note: These are estimates based on industry averages. Actual environmental impacts vary by species, geographic origin, processing methods, and transportation distances. The values presented here are conservative and likely underestimate actual savings.
Choose reclaimed lumber for your next project and you are not just building something beautiful — you are actively reducing waste, saving trees, and lowering carbon emissions. Let us help you find the perfect reclaimed wood for your vision.