Carbon emissions

Forums › Off topic › Carbon emissions

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#92867 8-Nov-2011 11:34

How do they work out carbon emissions?

I just read an article on the army replacing a coal burner with a wood pellet one.
It said they will save using 5300 tons of coal and will put out 10500 tons less carbon.
wtf

Dingbatt

6756 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#542564 8-Nov-2011 13:27

Maybe it is a two for one deal ;)
Probably that the 5.3 tonnes of pure carbon in the coal is converted into 10.5 tonnes of CARBON DIOXIDE (not carbon) as extra O atoms do have a mass. And although wood will probably produce the same amount of CO2 it will have saved the planet by absorbing that only recently (in geological terms).

Won't actually comment on AGW.

Edit: Fixed typo.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542566 8-Nov-2011 13:31

Shoot when I was in school it was bad to chop up trees as that released co2.

John2010

532 posts

Ultimate Geek

#542572 8-Nov-2011 13:45

TheUngeek: Shoot when I was in school it was bad to chop up trees as that released co2.

But look what happened. Since you were at school all those trees you didn't chop up turned to horrible nasty coal

. Now we know better we chop up the trees and burn them before they get a chance to do so.

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#542577 8-Nov-2011 13:47

TheUngeek: Shoot when I was in school it was bad to chop up trees as that released co2.

As long as the forest was replanted you can keep chopping down the same trees and burn them, each time you simply "recycle" the carbon you previously released....

If you don't chop a tree down it will likely fall over at some point in the future, when this happens the carbon will "leak" out anyway, so if you burn it at least you get to stay warm....

Carbon from coal has been fixed, and will not escape into the environment without being burnt, the stuff in trees will get out by itself....

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#542578 8-Nov-2011 13:48

John2010:
TheUngeek: Shoot when I was in school it was bad to chop up trees as that released co2.

But look what happened. Since you were at school all those trees you didn't chop up turned to horrible nasty coal . Now we know better we chop up the trees and burn them before they get a chance to do so.

Nice sneaking in an age joke there! lol

gzt

17111 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#542645 8-Nov-2011 15:20

Wood fuel based on wood waste (where otherwise decayed on ground) is considered carbon neutral.

Interesting they anticipate a $100K carbon credit for the abatement, but when considered in the context of the cost of the project this is only a small contributor.

Looks like they are replacing an older system.

Feasibility study here:

http://www.eeca.govt.nz/sites/all/files/burnham-militarybase-feasibility-study-july-2009.pdf