Carbon Neutral Cities

[richlist]

So what carbon offset is provided for planting a tree ?

[servodude]

So what carbon offset is provided for planting a tree ?

You can try this for a quick summary: https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -emissions
- it's not a perfect solution to the problem, indeed some see it as a last resort: https://treenet.org/resources/trees-and-carbon-trading/
- if you google you'll find a few different schemes and markets

It's only one entry in the ledger and ultimately we need to pay off the global carbon debt we've being accruing
- or accept that the changes to our lifestyles will be made for us without us having any control
- we can't keep refinancing this debt

-sd

[UncleEbenezer]

So what carbon offset is provided for planting a tree ?

More critically, what did they clear from the ground to make the space for that tree? Forest, perhaps?

[JohnB]

If you are that cynical, assume the companies sell the offset value of every tree multiple times, or plant them in the morning, and dig them up in the evening.

[UncleEbenezer]

Even if you're not at all cynical, the question remains over what made way for that tree? The natural state of all non-desert[1] land is that something grows there and absorbs carbon: that's what offsets nature's emissions (such as us and other animals breathing, and the occasional big event like a volcano). So the baseline assumption must always be that planting a tree merely preserves the status quo.

[1] Desert being defined as land where vegetation won't grow or is extremely limited. Whether that's through lack of water as in Arabia, or cold&ice as in Greenland, is immaterial.

[JohnB]

There are 2 relevant measures of carbon locked up in fields. Soil carbon, which is reduced in arable fields compared with natural scrub (pasture is much better) and the carbon locked up in foliage, where woodland tends to have the most, depending on the planting density. Converting from one to the other changes the level of carbon sequestration, and as well as allowing plants to draw CO2 from the air, you can actively add bio-char and other composts to the soil itself.

The numbers of any particular soil type are open to debate of course, but not all usages are equal.

[richlist]

So what carbon offset is provided for planting a tree ?

You can try this for a quick summary: https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -emissions
- it's not a perfect solution to the problem, indeed some see it as a last resort: https://treenet.org/resources/trees-and-carbon-trading/
- if you google you'll find a few different schemes and markets

It's only one entry in the ledger and ultimately we need to pay off the global carbon debt we've being accruing
- or accept that the changes to our lifestyles will be made for us without us having any control
- we can't keep refinancing this debt

-sd

Seems the 'ball park' answer is 1 tree removes 1 ton of carbon over its 40 year life cycle.

So, now I have my solar panels, my electric car and my energy supplier who supplies electricity 100% from renewables all I need to sort out is my gas central heating boiler......

In Spain we have an air sourced heat pump which also doubles as an air conditioner. Anybody sell them suitable for a large house in the UK ??

[gryffron]

In Spain we have an air sourced heat pump which also doubles as an air conditioner. Anybody sell them suitable for a large house in the UK ??

Yes, Air Source Heating is becoming increasingly common. Both air blowers a-la air conditioning, and water systems to replace your CH boiler. Should be easily available, no matter where in the country you are.

Gryff

[richlist]

The problem is convincing Joe Public that they should spend between £7K - £11K having a heat pump installed instead of replacing their gas boiler for less than half the cost.

It ain't gonna happen unless the price comes down/ an incentive is offered or a miracle happens.

14% of all carbon emissions in the UK are from our homes.

We are all doomed. The end of the world is nigh.

[Lootman]

In Spain we have an air sourced heat pump which also doubles as an air conditioner. Anybody sell them suitable for a large house in the UK ??

Yes, Air Source Heating is becoming increasingly common. Both air blowers a-la air conditioning, and water systems to replace your CH boiler. Should be easily available, no matter where in the country you are.

Yep, we have one too, controlled by a Nest. No radiators and no water pipes criss-crossing the house. Love it, and I don't even give a fig about the climate thingy.