The Wood Utility Pole & Crossarm Carbon Calculator is intended to assist utility providers in calculating the amount of carbon sequestered in their inventory of wood poles and crossarms, as well as the carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the atmosphere while wood poles and crossarms are in service.
Calculations are made utilizing common or representative pole class/length groups and the actual dimensions of the common or representative crossarms used by a utility. Once entered, the Carbon Calculator estimates the volume of wood, mass of wood, stored carbon in the wood, and mass of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere while the wood is in service within overhead structures.
This calculator is also available as an Excel-based utility. Download it from the Online Technical Library
Entering Pole, Crossarm Data
In the Carbon Calculator below, enter the utility poles by the major classes, lengths and number of poles of that class and length. Use the pull-down menus to select the appropriate class and length, per the ANSI standards.
Classes and lengths are standardized by ANSI to provide equal load capacity, independent of wood pole species. The pole classes and length are from the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) Book of Standards Tables 4 and 5.
Wood is typically approximately 50% carbon, on a dry weight basis. Wood from Southern Pine timber is typically approximately 31.7 pounds per cubic feet dry weight density. For the purpose of these calculations, this Southern Pine density is assumed for all wood. Any differences with Douglas fir poles are accounted for by the slightly larger sizes as defined in the ANSI standards. Thus, assuming all poles have the same density introduces no significant error.
Crossarm volumes are calculated from the actual dimensions. Use the decimal equivalents in entering dimensions (i.e. 1/2 inch = 0.5 inch).