In honor of “Blog Action Day” 2009 and its efforts to address climate change, here are some steps green construction contractors can take to address climate change themselves.
A significant proportion of the carbon footprint of earth moving contractors and other heavy equipment users comes from diesel fuel and associated emissions. Switching to alternative fuels like ultra low sulfur diesel or biodiesel is an easy and effective way to address climate change. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (“ULSD”) fuel is usually required to maximize the clean technology of modern diesel engines and vehicles. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources, which contains no petroleum, but can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications resulting in a fuel that is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Reduce emissions from construction equipment by substituting clean-burning fuels such as ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and/or biodiesel or fuel additives verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program Verification Process, when possible and available. Use highway grade diesel fuel in all pieces of equipment where clean-burning fuels cannot be used.
Federal regulations mandate the use of ULSD fuel for both on-road (2007) and off-road (2010) vehicles, and in certain areas of the country already. The ULSD must conform to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) D975 with the following additional specifications:
i. ASTM D5453 15 ppm Sulfur maximum
ii. ASTM D6078 Lubricity (SBOCLE) 3100g minimum
iii. ASTM D613 Cetane 45 minimum
Reduce emissions from construction equipment by using equipment that meets or exceeds applicable EPA emissions standards for on-road (e.g. 2004 model year) and non-road (e.g. Tier 2) equipment, when possible and available. Equipment should also be fitted with the best available pollution controls for particulate matter, when possible and available.
Many green construction contracts are starting to mandate the use of alternative fuels in heavy construction. Why not get in front of regulations and adopt these practices now? You may be surprised at the mileage you get from your customers by practicing simple green construction practices.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robseattle/34083190/
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