Construction

Construction is a $1 trillion industry (2004) employing 6.4 million people in 732,000 companies throughout the United States, according to the US EPA. The sector includes building construction, highway construction, heavy industrial construction (e.g., tunnels, airports, and dams), municipal utility construction (e.g., waste water treatment plants), and special trades such as plumbing, heating and demolition contractors.

Funding and technical assistance The Clean Air Agency has obtained about $1.7 million in annual funding for Diesel Solutions projects.  Much of this money has been and is being allocated to participants in the program.  This includes special funding for private projects.  Contact Dave Kircher or John Anderson for more information.

Like other diesel-operated engines, construction equipment —including cranes, paving trucks and bulldozers— is also a major source of air pollution, particularly emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxide gases (SOx), and toxic air pollutants, all of which contribute to serious adverse health and environmental effects.

Construction equipment can be cleaned up through diesel engine retrofits, cleaner fuels, and idle reduction policies.  Some project examples include:

• Replacing non-road diesel fuel, which has a higher sulfur content, with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), biodiesel or low-sulfur diesel.

• Retrofitting equipment with emission-control devices to reduce diesel exhaust

• Installing idle-reduction technology for trucks and equipment, as well as implementing idling reduction policies for drivers and equipment operators.

• Scrapping and replacement of retired diesel equipment, instead of auctioning off for re-use.