Phase 1: Explorations

Feasibility, Manual Prototyping

From 2021-2023, we have been focused on offsets for personal airplane travel, getting the calculation variables in place, and using established planting programs.

Using the EPA baseline: the weighted average carbon sequestered by a medium growth coniferous or deciduous tree, planted in an urban setting and allowed to grow for 10 years, is 36.4 lbs (16.5 kg) of carbon per tree.

Although the carbon absorption capacity can vary, it is generally considered that a tree can store about 167 kg of CO2 per year, or 1 ton of CO2 per year for 6 mature trees, so the offset will continue much longer at a higher rate than our planting estimate.

For flight emissions data, Google Flights now includes CO2e (Estimated Carbon Emissions). This takes in the length of the flight, type of plane, seat class, and other factors to come up with estimated carbon emission per person for the specific flight.

We have been using the One Tree Planted website donating $1 per tree to plant in various planting projects around the world that they have operating. They are mainly working with partner organizations not planting directly.

Examples

  • A trip from Seattle to San Jose carbon emission is 178kg on Embraer 175, or 155kg on a 737-900 (per passenger). We travelled 700 miles. For 3 os us, using 36.4 kg CO2, planted 20 trees.

  • A trip from Seattle to Phoenix for 4 of us, total carbon emission 1500kg CO2. Using 36.4 kg CO2, planted 42 trees.

  • A trip from Seattle to NYC for 2 of us, total carbon emission 1916kg CO2. Using 36.4 kg CO2, planted 53 trees. Boeing 757 has higher emission.

  • A trip for 2 from Seattle to Rome 1004kg Bolognia to Paris 135kg Paris to Seattle 748kg - Using 36.4 kg CO2, planting 103 trees.

Questions

Coming out of the feasibility phase, prompted several questions.

  1. Is API available for Google Flights that includes this carbon estimate data?

  2. Lots of variables included, how accurate do they feel CO2e is? Time of year differences?

  3. Emailing with OneTreePlanted, further info on carbon sequestering research and any tracking they have. Potential for a connector to use their planting programs?

  4. What type of tree is the best vessel to grab carbon? Big leaves? deep roots? Shallow?

  5. Is carbon that needs to be sequestered distributed equally throughout the planet? Does it matter where the tree is Planted to have same effect?

  6. What's the time range (5yr, 10yr, 30yr, 50yr, 100yr).

  7. Types of trees & carbon absorption over their expected lifetime?

  8. Would like to build a calculator - enter flight number & dates. Using the Google Flights API to do the math for specific flight entries.

  9. Ideally need to be able to look up flights in the past (most tools like Google Flights & FlightAware are only looking at forward dates). Or could just look up by flight number, for most recent day - doesn’t necessarily have to be the exact dates.