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Reducing Emissions from Construction Equipment
What can Construction
Fleet Operators Do?
Although new federal emissions standards
and advanced pollution control technology
for the diesel and gasoline vehicles of the
future will dramatically reduce the health
risks posed by exposure to diesel exhaust,
diesel equipment is durable and lasts for
many years. Fortunately, there are three steps
that construction fleet managers can take to
help make the diesel equipment that is
currently in use cleaner.
Reduce Engine Idling
Idling engines waste fuel and contribute to
noise and air pollution. A large diesel engine
can waste up to one gallon of fuel for each
hour that it idles. In planning day-to-day
activities on a construction site, fleet man-
agers can save on fuel costs by taking steps
to maximize equipment use and minimize
idling time. Equipment operators can help
improve the air quality in their work envi-
ronment by turning off engines when they
are not in use.
Use Cleaner Fuels
Burning cleaner diesel fuel, or alternative
fuels such as biodiesel, helps reduce air
pollution. Some examples of cleaner fuels
available for construction fleets in the
Boston metropolitan area include:
Low Sulfur Diesel
^ Low Sulfur Diesel fuel (LSD), or highway
diesel fuel, is readily available and currently
used by diesel-powered highway vehicles. LSD
has a sulfur content of 300 to 500 parts per
million (ppm) and reduces particulate matter
(PM) by 10 to 20 percent compared to non-
road diesel fuel which has a sulfur
content of 3,000 to 5,000 ppm. The cost of
highway diesel fuel is approximately 1 to 3
cents more per gallon than non-road diesel fuel.
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
* Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (ULSD) will
be available nationwide for highway vehicles
in October 2006. It is currently available in
certain parts of the country including the
Boston area. ULSD reduces fine particle
emissions between 5 and 9 percent. The
combination of ULSD with advanced
pollution control technology, such as a
diesel particulate matter filter (DPF), reduces
fine particle emissions between 60 and 90
percent. ULSD currently costs between 5
and 20 cents more per gallon than LSD.
In 2006, when LTLSD is available nation-
wide, the cost differential will disappear.
Biodiesel
^ Biodiesel is a domestically produced,
renewable fuel that can be manufactured
from new and used vegetable oils and
animal fats. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable,
and reduces air pollutants such as PM,
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air
toxics. However, emissions of nitrogen
oxides (NOx) increase with the concentra-
tion of biodiesel in the fuel. Some biodiesel
produces more NOx than others, and some
additives have shown promise in modifying
the increases.
^ Blends of biodiesel with petroleum
diesel can be used in unmodified diesel
engines. Biodiesel can be used in its pure
form (B100), but may require certain
engine modifications to avoid mainte-
nance and performance problems. Pure
blends of biodiesel may not be suitable for
cold climates. A blend of 20% biodiesel
In New England,
the air pollution
that comes from
non-road diesel
engines accounts
for 20 percent
of the emissions
of nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and 40
percent of
particulate matter
(PM) emissions
from mobile
sources.
f/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
January 2006
EPA-901-F-05-022
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(called B20) and 80% regular diesel
reduces emissions of PM by about 10%,
but increases NOx emissions by about 2%.
^ B20 costs about 15 to 30 cents more per
gallon than LSD. B100 reduces emissions
of PM by roughly 40 percent and costs about
75 cents to $1.50 more than LSD.
Emulsified Diesel
^ Emulsified diesel is a blended mixture of
diesel fuel, water, and other additives that
EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program
EPAs Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program is designed to address pollution from
diesel construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles currently in use.
Numerous agencies in the Boston area are taking steps to reduce diesel exhaust
from construction equipment.
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA)
and Highway Department (MHD):
With $ 120,000 in grant funds from EPA's 2005 National Voluntary Diesel Retrofit
Program, the MA EOEA and MHD will develop and implement a subgrant
program to provide funding assistance to add advanced pollution control
technology to paving equipment such as pavers, millers and rollers. This program
will make it easier for businesses to comply with the MHD retrofit requirements.
Massport:
With grant funds from EPAs 2004 National Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program,
Massport is equipping 36 land-based vehicles used at Gonley Terminal with
diesel oxidation catalysts.
Other agencies in Massachusetts taking steps to reduce diesel exhaust
from construction equipment include:
City of Cambridge
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
State and Local Programs:
Through construction contracts, many public agencies in the Northeast are
requiring construction vehicles to be retrofitted. Examples of organizations
that have included retrofit requirements in construction contracts include:
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Massachusetts Highway Department
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
reduces both fine particle and NOx
emissions. Emulsified diesel can be used in
any diesel engine, but the addition of water
reduces the energy content of the fuel, so
some reduction in power and fuel economy
can be expected. Emulsified diesel can
reduce emissions of smog-causing NOx
between 10 and 20 percent and fine
particles between 50 and 60 percent.
Emulsified diesel costs approximately 20
cents more per gallon than LSD.
Install Pollution
Control Equipment
Adding advanced pollution control equip-
ment such as a diesel oxidation catalyst or a
particulate matter filter will also reduce
emissions from construction vehicles. These
devices are installed in the exhaust system
of an existing diesel engine.
Diesel Oxidation Catalysts
^ Diesel oxidation catalysts are similar to
the catalytic converter in your car and can
reduce emissions of PM between 20 and 50
percent (in certain types of vehicles), hydro-
carbons (HC) by 50 percent and carbon
monoxide (CO) by approximately 40
percent. Oxidation catalysts cost between
$1,000 and $3,000 and can be installed on
any new or used engine and run on any type
of diesel fuel.
Diesel Particulate Matter Filters
^ Diesel particulate matter filters are ceramic
devices that collect PM in the exhaust
stream. The high temperature of the
exhaust heats the ceramic structure and
allows the particles inside to break down
(or oxidize) into less harmful components.
They cost between $5,000 and $ 10,000, and
can be installed on certain vehicles with
engines built after 1995. To ensure that the
filter will work properly, it is necessary to use
ULSD fuel with a sulfur content of less than
15 parts per million.
For More Information:
www.epa.gov/ne/eco/gb3
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