Sequestered carbon as good as money in bank

There's much talk today among designers, architects, builders and government about the best practices for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions associated with new construction, demolition, waste and reuse. Here's my personal perspective on this subject.

“When you save matters, what you build matters; what you don't build matters more,” architect Larry Strain said. He wrote in “The Value of Carbon” on the University of Washington's Carbon Leadership Forum: “When we evaluate emission reduction strategies, there are two things to keep in mind: the amount of reduction, and when it happens. Because emissions are cumulative and because we have a limited amount of time to reduce them, carbon reductions now have more value than carbon reductions in the future.”

The French writer and philosopher Voltaire posed questions about time in one of his writings and concluded, time is man's most precious asset. I concur as there's no better time than today to do all we can, no matter the cost or the size of the effort, for our children's sake.

In a time of a climate crisis, we need to think of trees and wood as carbon time capsules. The longer they, trees, and wood survive, the better. Their sequestered carbon is as good as money in the bank. And as long as it remains sequestered, its life-sustaining value (interest) is paid forward. So today is no better time to “waste not a thing,” having the potential and capacity to make our planet healthier and more equitable. Future generations will be so grateful for our love and caring.