Wood-frame buildings typically generate less embodied GHG emissions during their life cycle. In other words, there are fewer GHG emissions associated with a wood building than other building types. This difference can be quite large and can be taken as a carbon credit for the amount of CO2 emissions that were avoided (displaced) by choosing wood over other more GHG-intensive materials.
The carbon calculator tool estimates the total wood mass in a building and the associated carbon impacts. Carbon impacts refer to both the amount of carbon stored in the wood building materials and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) avoided by choosing wood instead of another more GHG-intensive, non-wood material.