Construction Materials Courtesy of Mark S. Ervin
Photo Courtesy of Ken Aschliman

These are one-foot sections of 2 x 4 inch construction studs. One is wood, and one is steel. The wood stud section weighs 1.125 pounds, and as a result of its growth and manufacturing, it captured 8.2 ounces of carbon from the atmosphere and held it as part of the wood. The steel stud section weighs 0.375 pounds, and as a result of its manufacturing, this piece of steel emitted 11.6 ounces of carbon to the atmosphere. Imagine a pile 8 times bigger for each, and that is the amount for a complete construction stud.