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What You Can Do
Fleet Owners and Operators
Reduce Idling – Reducing engine idling can be an effective way to reduce emissions while saving fuel and lowering maintenance costs. By eliminating unnecessary idling, you can reduce diesel emissions and fuel costs at the construction site.
Properly Maintain Equipment – Engines that are properly maintained perform better and typically emit less pollution by burning fuel more efficiently, reducing operation costs, and extending engine life. Rebuilding an engine can significantly lower emission and help the engine run more efficiently.
Implement Emissions Reduction Strategies – Strategies include utilizing retrofit technologies, equipment or engine replacement, cleaner fuels, and operational improvements. These technologies are cost-effective and can yield substantial emissions reductions. Some retrofit strategies are presented on this page.
Switch to Cleaner Fuels – Switching to fuels that contain lower levels of sulfur reduces particulate matter (PM). Lower sulfur diesel fuel enhances the effectiveness of retrofit technologies and can have a cleansing effect on the engine that reduces maintenance costs and extends oil change intervals. Using ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) does not require equipment changes or modification.
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel reduces air pollutants such as PM, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and air toxics. However, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) may increase with the concentration of biodiesel in the fuel.
Alternative fuels such as natural gas and propane are another option for equipment, such as forklifts and loaders. Many states have tax incentives for using alternative fuels. www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/incen_laws.html 
Use EPA or CARB verified technologies – EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) both have technology verification programs that quantify the emissions performance of a retrofit technology through appropriate testing protocols and rigorous statistical analysis. For more information on verified technologies, please see our Technology Options and Strategies page.
Learn about State and Local Opportunities – State and local agencies, such as California's Carl Moyer Program and Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP), offer grants for activities that reduce diesel emissions. Check to see if your state or local agency might offer financial assistance for clean diesel projects. You can also check our Grants and Funding page.
Develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) – An EMS provides a framework to integrate environmental decision-making into an organization's day-to-day operation and is a way to plan for continuous improvement in environmental performance. For more information, see the EMS Construction page.
Policy Makers
As policy makers, state and local governments have several options for reducing the impact of diesel emissions from construction sites in their communities. From creating programs and policies to providing educational resources and technical assistance, policymakers can provide the incentives needed to achieve cost-effective emissions reductions.
Develop clean diesel incentives and programs – Policy makers can provide a variety of incentives or programs to implement clean construction projects. A broad array of incentives and case studies can be found in the report "Emissions Reduction Incentives for Off-Road Diesel Equipment Used in the Port and Construction Sectors" (PDF, 94 pages, 588K, About PDF). Examples of clean diesel programs include:
- Grant programs: Grant programs at the state, regional, or local level, provide funds directly to public or private fleets for the incremental costs of diesel reduction. Statewide grant programs for retrofitting construction equipment include California's Carl Moyer Program and the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan. More information about grants and funding.
- Tax incentives: Tax incentives can be in the form of tax exemptions, tax deductions or tax credits. Some localities, such as Georgia and Oregon, have enacted tax incentives intended to spur retrofitting or repowering of diesel engines or to promote use of alternative fuels.
- Contract modifications and incentives: Localities can add clean diesel activities to contract language or can award contract bonuses for implementing clean diesel practices. Numerous states have policy and contract language in place that mandates measures to improve air quality. Examples of language used.
Funding for clean diesel programs has come from a variety of sources, including federal and state grants, fees, sales or corporate taxes, and legislative appropriations.
Tools for creating programs include: information about assessing fleets, emissions modeling resources including a retrofit emissions calculator. For more information and examples of programs, visit the Publications and Resource page.
Consider Idle-Reduction Policies – States and local governments can establish idle-reduction polices or requirements to reduce emissions from unnecessary idling. For example, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has instituted an idle-reduction policy for delivery and dump trucks and other diesel equipment used in the construction of I-95. For examples of on state and local idle-reduction laws, see SmartWay’s Idle Reduction: State and Local Laws page.
Educate users, operators, and managers of construction equipment – Guidance and education on air quality, air pollutants, and retrofit technology implementation, increase awareness and are the first steps for reducing diesel emissions. The information found on this web site will be helpful for any educational effort on diesel emission reduction.
Start reducing emissions in your own fleet – Many state and local government agencies own and operate their own construction equipment for public works projects or road construction. By starting with your own fleet, you can set a good example and educate others on your experience.
Use EPA or CARB verified technologies – EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) both have technology verification programs that quantify the emissions performance of a retrofit technology through appropriate testing protocols and rigorous statistical analysis. For more information on verified technologies, please see our Technology Options and Strategies page.
Develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) – An EMS provides a framework to integrate environmental decision-making into an organization's day-to-day operation and is a way to plan for continuous improvement in environmental performance. For more information, see the EMS web site.