Clean Construction Equipment

OEC appreciates the vital work Oregon’s construction industry does. Unfortunately most construction equipment emits unhealthy diesel exhaust. Diesel soot (particulate matter) is harmful to human health and carries more than 40 hazardous air pollutants deep into people’s lungs. According to the EPA, diesel is likely the main air pollutant contributing to cancer risk in Oregon, and diesel also contributes to asthma, other respiratory illnesses, heart attacks and heart disease.

The Oregon Environmental Council encourages you to be a leader in tackling diesel pollution. By getting ahead of the curve of upcoming federal regulations covering construction equipment engines and off-road fuels, you will become more competitive, reduce employee sick leave, and increase employee longevity and satisfaction.

The steps outlined below will help you curb diesel pollution. For more information on each step, see our Clean Construction Equipment factsheet [PDF]. To help you cover the costs of retrofitting, rebuilding or replacing your older diesel engines, grants, loans and tax credits are available from the State of Oregon through the Department of Environmental Quality.

• Use cleaner fuels. Biodiesel is widely available and a cost-effective way to reduce harmful on-site emissions.
• Don’t idle. Adopt an anti-idling policy that saves money in fuel and maintenance costs. For an average vehicle, an hour of wasted idle time per day costs $360-$720 of fuel per year.
• Retrofit your engines. Significantly reduce emissions with proven retrofit technology.
• Perform regular maintenance. Simple maintenance improves efficiency and engine life and prevents equipment failure.
• Repower an old engine. Extend the life of equipment and improve performance by upgrading to newer engines or installing upgrade kits.

Also check out Breathing Clean by Building Green: Clean Diesel Construction, a video by the Northeast Diesel Collaborative.