Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to your frequently asked questions about the Bond app and design for positive climate change.
General Questions
001
Does the 90 day free trial calculate everything?
YES! Money will not prevent access for people who want to provide solutions. You will have access to 100% of the calculations, storing of 2 projects, and 1 report export. You can purchase additional report exports for $9.99 each.
002
Are there ads on the free version?
Not yet.
003
Why do you charge for the service? Other calculators are free.
The fees help us recoup the thousands of hours and dollars invested into making this tool. It also fuels updating and improving the Bond app as well as helping to push forward the other calculators currently under construction. I think you will find that this is the most extensive calculator available.
004
Why are there so many data entry points? This takes some effort!
We are providing a tool for professionals to look at their work at the granular level. Without this level of detail, we will not know where are leverage points are for change. This effort sets you apart from the crowd.
005
What is a good range of time for a project to reach equilibrium?
Given the current state of our climate crisis, we’d love to see 5-year SET’s. That just isn’t realistic for some projects right now, but we must move in that direction. For now, we are considering 20 years and longer a fail but don’t let that discourage you. The point is to do the best you can.
006
Why doesn’t the calculator offer solutions?
As the professional on the project, you understand the project specific desires and constraints better than anyone. The calculator is designed to tell the truth of the situation and empower you to make the best decision you can, given your specific circumstances. There is a matrix of mandates on every project. From the client’s desires to local codes and practical considerations for safety, each project will need customized solutions.
007
Does it really take this long to sequester?
Unfortunately, yes. Hence the climate predicament we are in.
008
Can you please make this faster?!
Yup. Already working on building a better calculator with all your feedback.
009
Is it really possible to reach equilibrium in 5 years?
Yes, but it is not easy to create landscapes that look like they currently do and meet this goal. This is the challenge of our lifetimes. To design and build quality, beautiful landscapes that function for humans with varying needs and abilities while solving the climate crisis, cleaning our water, and providing habitat for other species.
Data Questions
001
Why should I trust your data?
Great question! The science is changing rapidly, and you probably want to know where I took my data. Please look at our citations page for sources and please look at our white pages to review Dimensional Analysis of some of our formulas.
002
What’s coming next on the Bond app?
On this calculator we are looking for what you think is missing so we can customize more for our core base. We are currently working on providing footprints for different types of shipping so you can choose more specifically your footprint for transportation. We are also working on decking, pools, and alternative materials.
003
What is the weakest link?
Great question! The science regarding emissions is much stronger than sequestration. However, there is almost always a series of hidden transport footprints between manufacturing and end use so we must assume that all stated carbon emissions numbers are lower than reality. Err on the side of caution. Sequestration’s relationship to soil type needs much more scientific advancement as does specific plant species level sequestration.
004
Why do irrigation controllers have such a high footprint?
Irrigation controllers are basically computers. Computers use many high emission components such as plastic, silicon, and heavy metals. They also have high transportation footprints due to global shipping.
Summary Page Questions
001
What is the difference between the Summary and the Reports pages?
The summary page is organized to allow you to review your entire project in a larger format. The Reports page is designed as your export page. Select the reports and your preferred file format here, then export to build your own custom report in the software of your choice.
002
How do I use the Improve Your Project tool on the Summary page?
If you would like to see what is needed to make your project reach equilibrium faster, simply enter the preferred years to equilibrium and the calculator will display the additional pounds of CO2 you will need to sequester each year OR the additional pounds of CO2 you will need to reduce during construction. You can then take these numbers and compare them against your emissions and sequestration capabilities and start identifying the changes that make the most sense within your project constraints.
003
What does the map on the Calculator and Report mean?
The map is a reminder of our larger goal. In the upper left-hand corner is the current amount of PPM of greenhouse gases from NOAA’s Mauna Loa laboratory. It shows the target level of CO2 and CO2 equivalents that we know is safe for the biosphere to operate.
Reports Page Questions
001
Can I just print a complete report?
Yes, you can compile a complete report and export it as a PDF.
002
What files types can I export?
Reports can be exported as PDF files. Coming soon: CSV data export.
Inputs Page Questions
001
What are the pie charts and why are there two for sequestration?
Total Carbon Pie Chart
The “Total Carbon” pie chart displays each individual input group’s total CO2 load in relation to all of the other input groups in the entire project. This is your whole project’s CO2 load view. Each color on the pie chart matches the color of the input group. Click on the pie chart from the Calculator screen, and you will see the details of the pie chart. From here, you can hover over a section of the pie chart to see the name and total pounds of carbon of the subgroup. You can also hover over pie charts on the Summary screen.
Annual Sequestration Pie Chart
Plants sequester CO2 throughout their life cycle. This pie chart displays the annual sequestration in total pounds of CO2 in each plant category.
Initial Sequestration Pie Chart
When we apply mulches and compost, a portion becomes stored carbon in the soil, so we track it separately as a one-time sequestration.
*Note: Northern California studies have shown that a one-time application of compost on rangeland can continue to sequester carbon at an increasing rate each year. We are working with that data to better understand how it applies to the calculator and will update the app when appropriate.
002
Can I see the components that make up the charts on the Calculator screen?
Yes, click on them for a detailed view.
003
I’m confused by the carbon and carbon % under the input items. Can you explain?
Here is how that works. As you know, there are multiple input groups. Each of those groups is organized with subgroups within it. On the right side of the Calculator screen, you will see a bar graph that displays the % of the total carbon load of each of the subsections in relation to the total input group with a colored column for each subsection. Below the bar graph, you will see the input group’s total carbon pounds (the sum of all the subgroups) and the % of the total emissions for that input.
Recap:
Bar Chart = % carbon of subgroup as related to the input group “Carbon”.
Carbon = pounds of carbon for that line item.
Carbon % = % of carbon within the subsection of that input group.
004
Am I supposed to calculate the transportation of materials to my supplier?
No. There are many hidden miles in the supply chain. Most studies do not account for this as it is hard to track. The only number you can be sure of is from your supplier to your project site.
It is safe to assume that the further your stone is mined from your project, the higher the transportation emissions are. This is why we have created options for local stone vs. imported stone. It is the most accurate way we can differentiate given available data. Future calculator versions will include close to a dozen different forms of transportation options so you can estimate emissions from sources all over the globe.
It’s best to stay local when you can.
005
Do I have to match all of the different measurement metrics for the calculator to be accurate?
Great question! No. Each line item calculates separately, so you can mix and match if you like. Use whichever metric is best for you, and the calculator will properly convert it to pounds of CO2. Be careful that you are using the metric your data is calculated in, or you could get wildly different results. So, if you have your data. in ‘feet’, make sure you select feet when entering your data. If it is in “meters”, select “meters”, and so on.
006
I don’t usually calculate mileage for projects. What is the fastest way to do this?
We suggest using the mapping app of your choice. Enter the location of your project and the location of your supplier, take that number and enter it into the calculator. The round trip is calculated for you.
007
What if I just pick up materials every day on the way to the project?
We suggest revisiting this strategy to see if you can minimize travel and time with more strategic material acquisition plans. If that is not practical, do your best to add in the additional miles by calculating the distance from your starting point to your suppliers, then to the project site, and find a reasonable average.
008
What if the equipment I use is not in the “Large Equipment” category?
If your equipment is not listed, the best way to choose equipment in the “Large Equipment Category” is by horsepower. Choose the equipment that has the closest horsepower to the types /brands of equipment you are using.
009
How do I calculate my own custom flatwork?
In both the “Mortared flatwork” and the “Sand Set/Dry lay Flatwork” sections of the “Hardscape” input, we have calculated the base materials; therefore, you cannot reduce them. You can, however, add more by inputting your quantities of specific materials in the “Additional Hardscape Materials” section of “Hardscape”.
010
What if I use a new material with a smaller carbon footprint than the standard materials you have listed? I want my efforts for cutting-edge steps I am already taking to be accounted for.
Great question! New products are arriving, and it is hard to keep up with them all. Not to mention, some just do not have any data to prove their “sustainable” title. If you have the data on a new item you are using, we suggest comparing it to the item we have listed the calculator and then adjusting the quantity of the item to get the emissions that are accurate. For example. If you are using an alternative CMU that has 50% of the emissions of a standard CMU, simply reduce the quantity in the input category for “CMU Wall”. This should give you the accurate emission but you’ll need to make a note that the square footage was altered to get it.
011
I use filter fabric. Where do I input that?
We do not currently have inputs for geotextiles. If you would still like to add something, I would use 10% of the “PVC Liner 20 mil” input in the “Water Features” input category. This will likely get you close.
012
How does grading emit CO2, just the equipment use?
No, there are multiple emission points during grading. There is the equipment use which is tracked in the input category for equipment. There is also release from the removal of plant material as soil disturbance. Which we track in the grading and land clearing input.
Plants can transfer approximately 40% of the airborne CO2 they capture directly to the soil. When we disturb this soil through grading or tilling, we release this stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Sometimes the best and hardest decision is to leave things alone.
013
What if the exact component I use is not on the list?
Product emissions basically come down to material type, weight, and transportation. Do your best to pick the component that is most similar to the one you are using. We will continue to bring more material choices into the calculator based on your feedback.
014
How do I use PM/Owner Miles in the Transportation Input?
The “PM/Owner Miles” section is linked to the previous inputs of “Duration of Project” and based on a percentage of the “Daily Construction Trucks”. This allows you to calculate the travel emissions of owners, project managers, designers, or other professionals who will be traveling to the site but not every day. Since it is integrated, you can increase /decrease the amount of days in the ‘Duration of Project Line” under “Project Constraints” and the entire transportation category is updated.
015
What is the difference between a small truck and a large truck in the deliveries input section?
We have broken deliveries into two types of trucks. The small truck is for most trucks larger than a pickup and smaller than a semi-truck. This is a wide range of trucks used in construction but have relatively comparable emissions. The second category is a larger truck that is based on emissions of a semi-truck. This can be an actual truck and trailer or something similar like a bobtail or attached flatbed.