Can Timber Floors Reduce Our Carbon Footprint?

​Did you know that up to half of the dry weight of wood is carbon that’s been absorbed from the atmosphere by trees as they were growing!? Since the start of the Industrial Revolution there has been a sharp increase in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere- mainly from carbon dioxide, burning fossil fuels and changes to land use.

Greenhouse gases work in much the same way as the glass in a greenhouse. It lets light in and keeps the heat from escaping, providing warmth for the plants inside. In a similar way, when the Sun's energy reaches the Earth’s surface, some radiates back into space, and some is trapped in the atmosphere, keeping our planet warm enough for life to flourish.”

Forests clean the air by removing pollutants, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Trees filter our air and store our carbon dioxide as it grows, locking it in for life.

“Greenhouse gases work in much the same way as the glass in a greenhouse. It lets light in and keeps the heat from escaping, providing warmth for the plants inside. In a similar way, when the suns energy reaches the Earth’s surface, some radiates back into space, and some is trapped in the atmosphere, keeping our planet warm enough for life to flourish.”

​While natural levels of greenhouse gases maintain temperatures within the ecosystem that is suitable for existing life to flourish, increasing levels will have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem.

Most people know that forests help clean the air by removing pollutants, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Lesser known is the fact that trees incorporate the absorbed carbon into their wood, and the products made from that wood, continue to store the carbon indefinitely.”
​- From the book, 'Tackle Climate Change- Use Wood'

A Sustainable Solution to Greenhouse Gases
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The good news is there is something we can do! Lowering the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the most important things we can do to reduce the damage associated with climate change. “Most people know that forests help clean the air by removing pollutants, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Lesser known is the fact that trees incorporate the absorbed carbon into their wood, and the products made from that wood, continue to store the carbon indefinitely.”- From the book, “Tackle Climate Change- Use Wood”
 
So, that means trees filter the air and store our carbon dioxide efficiently, locking this into the wood for life! Using this timber, helps to reverse the impacts of climate change. By using and replacing carbon filled trees with new saplings, means that more pollutants and carbon dioxide can be absorbed and removed from the atmosphere and more oxygen can be produced into our atmosphere! In fact, in just one year, a mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen as 10 people inhale!

When you choose timber flooring, you are not only selecting a unique and natural floor finish from a renewable resource, you’re also making a positive impact on climate change. With the earth in mind, choose sustainable flooring for your next project, with Proparq Engineered Flooring, which meets high environmental standards. There are endless colour choices and finishes. Ask us for a sample for your project.

​Speak to us to see how you can incorporate some positive climate change into your next project!
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​References:
http://www.softwoodlumber.org/pdfs/Book_Tackle_Climate_Change_Use_Wood_eVersion.pdf
https://www.earthday.org/campaigns/reforestation/​
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