Diesel
engines, while rugged and long-lived pieces of machinery,
spew dangerous emissions severely compromising air quality.
Diesel emissions contribute to failure to meet federal air
standards, serious health effects and environmental degradation.
Exposure to diesel emissions has been linked to serious
health effects including a compromised immune system, aggravated
asthma and allergy symptoms, heart and lung disease, cancer
and even preventable deaths. |
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| Truck Stop Electrification |
Truck Stop Electrification (or TSE) allows truckers to “plug in” their  vehicles to operate the trucks systems without idling the engine and polluting. OEC is collaborating with state government, industry, and nonprofits to limit/eliminate harmful truck.
OEC is collaborating with Clean Fuels Ohio, Ohio Department of Development, US EPA-Office of Transportation, and Idle Aire Technologies Corporation to develop, educate and deploy technologies for big-rig trucks to utilize while at truck stops. Our efforts will save truckers fuel savings, reduce noise, and reduce the amount of harmful diesel exhaust that is emitted.
Truck stops are an important service to truckers and America. They allow truckers a safe place to rest. TSE allows them to enjoy the same comforts (heating, cooling, electrical systems) with out burning heavy amounts of fuel. The US EPA estimates that fuel savings could be over $3,000 per truck parking space.
Emissions from diesel trucks contribute to several Ohio counties failing national air standards and coming into “nonattainment.” Consequences of non attainment include off setting emissions and funds being with held from the federal government.
Diesel emissions from diesel trucks contribute to environmental degradation, crop loss, global warming, and smog.
| The Six R's of
Diesel Clean Up |
The solutions are as easy as learning the 6R’s of Diesel Cleanup:
- Refuel. Switching to cleaner fuels such as alternative diesel fuels or ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel can achieve modest reductions in pollutants. These fuels can also facilitate the use of advanced retrofit technologies, resulting in even less pollution.
- Repower. The body or chassis of some equipment can last through many decades of use, beyond the life of the original engine. Installing a new low-emission engine in an older chassis can allow the machine to run for many more years.
- Replace. If equipment is old and near the end of its life, replacing it with a new lower-emission model ahead of schedule can result in substantial emission reductions.
- Rebuild or repair. Emissions gradually increase over the life of an engine. Performing routine maintenance and periodic engine rebuilds can keep emission rates at or near original levels.
- Reduce idling. Idling equipment is not only polluting, but also a waste of fuel. Limiting idle time can save money by reducing fuel usage and wear and tear on the engine.
- Retrofit. On equipment that still has some useful life left, engines can be retrofitted with an emission control device. Retrofit technologies are available for a variety of applications.”
A variety of pollution controls exist to reduce tailpipe and engine compartment emissions. When these controls are used in conjunction with cleaner fuels, emissions can be reduced by as much as 90%. While retrofitting may require funding assistance, every fleet can adopt an idling policy, conserving fuel and precious tax dollars.
For more information, please see our diesel related factsheets
(In PDF format):
• Diesel
Emissions
• Fleet
Manager Solutions
• School
Bus Idling
• Alternative
Fuels
• Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel
• Sample
Idling Policy
| OEC a Leader in
Innovative Clean Diesel Programs |
OEC has worked with Senator Voinovich
and a diverse stakeholder group in developing legislation
to create a comprehensive national diesel retrofit program.
The Diesel Emissions
Reduction Act of 2005 (DERA) establishes voluntary national
and state-level grant and loan programs to promote the reduction
of diesel emissions. The OEC is working on a statewide campaign
focusing on local efforts to clean up diesel emissions.
The OEC recommends a comprehensive diesel clean up program
to reduce these deadly emissions and help Ohio communities
meet federal air quality standards. Read
More.
The Lingering Threat is a landmark report
that estimates the health impacts from diesel soot pollution
using EPA’s own methodology. The report was authored
by the Clean Air Task Force and released in partnership
with OEC and other clean diesel advocacy groups around the
country. It estimates that nearly 21,000 preventable deaths
occur each year in American due to breathing in diesel fumes.
Ohio ranked 8th in the country for health impacts from diesel
engines with an estimated 769 annual early deaths. Read
full report. (PDF)
- To learn about the health impacts in
your community, please click here to access an interactive
map: (external link)
What
you can do to help clean up dirty diesel engines:
Concerned about the health effects
of diesel emissions? Want your local school district to
change their bus idling policy? Need help figuring out where
to start? You can be part of the solution!
Read more on how you
can help!
| OEC champions Diesel Emissions Reduction Act |
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The OEC worked closely with U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) and industry to craft the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005. This landmark legislation would establish a $1 billion grant and loan fund to retrofit diesel school buses, trucks, construction equipment and other diesel vehicles. Read more. |
Take
Action to Clean Up Dirty Diesel Engines
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