In spring 2009, the OEC helped two Ohio communities implement programs that will retrofit diesel vehicles with emission control devices. 
To the city of Parma Heights, the Ohio Environmental Council awarded nearly $5,000 to help fund the clean up of two city ambulances with emission control devices. The pollution controls are expected to reduce harmful tailpipe pollution by 40% and eliminate 100% of in-cabin emissions. The two vehicles are the first known ambulances in Ohio to be retrofitted with these state-of-the-art emissions controls.
In Stark County, Northwest Local Schools teamed up with the Ohio Environmental Council to secure a $49,999 grant from the Ohio EPA to retrofit their buses with modern pollution controls. These modern pollution controls will reduce students' exposure to harmful diesel pollution by up to 90%.
To read more about these programs, click here.
| OEC Awarded $394,000 to Clean Up Dirty Diesel Engines |
The OEC is collaborating with Parma Heights, Cleveland Heights, Worthington, and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to retrofit more than 35 diesel vehicles with state of the art pollution controls. These controls will reduce pollution from these dirty diesel engines by as much as 90%.
This clean-up effort is funded by a grand from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The OEC received one of three Ohio grants that were awarded. Read more about this grant award.
For more information about the U.S. EPA’s Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative, click here.
|
| OEC a Leader in
Innovative Clean Diesel Programs |
OEC worked with U.S. Senator Voinovich
and a diverse stakeholder group to develop legislation
that created a comprehensive national diesel retrofit program.
The Diesel Emissions
Reduction Act of 2005 (DERA), which is still in effect, established voluntary national
and state-level grant and loan programs to promote the reduction
of diesel emissions.
"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)
| The National Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution |
In the US, more than 13 million diesel engines build our nation’s infrastructure and transport goods and people. However, particulate pollution from diesels shortens the lives of an estimated 21,000 people nationwide every year. Read about diesel’s health effects.
The National Partnership is committed to the following goals: To reduce diesel fine particulate matter emissions 40% by 2012, 55% by 2015, and 70% by 2020.
Join us in this effort! Have your organization sign onto the Campaign Platform. Be part of the solution to diesel pollution!
|
| 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
(PDFs)
• Diesel
Emissions
•
Diesel Engine Retrofits
• Fleet
Manager Solutions
• School
Bus Idling
• Alternative
Fuels
• Sample
Idling Policy
Take
Action to Clean Up Dirty Diesel Engines
|
