C7.7: Protect Air Quality During Construction

(2- 4 points)

INTENT

Protect air quality and reduce pollution by using construction equipment that reduces emissions of localized air pollutants and greenhouse gasses.

REQUIREMENTS

These requirements apply to all diesel engines used on site during construction. Delivery vehicles are not covered in this credit; exclude them from calculations.

• Establish a policy to reduce diesel emissions from idling construction equipment. Limit unnecessary idling to no more than five minutes in any 60-minute period.
• Implement a preventative maintenance plan for all equipment according to engine manufacturer specifications.
• Use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel that meets American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications with sulfur less than or equal to 15 ppm for all non-road diesel equipment.
• Use no construction equipment with Tier 0 engines.
• 50 percent of the total run-time hours of construction equipment meets one of the following criteria:
  • Tier 2 or higher engines (2 points)
  • Tier 3 or higher engines (3 points)
  • Tier 4 or higher engines (4 points)

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES

• Select construction contractors who are committed to reducing diesel emissions from construction equipment and vehicles.
• Reduce construction emissions by reducing idling; enhancing maintenance practices; using cleaner fuels; retrofitting engines with technologies designed to reduce emissions; and replacing older equipment with newer, cleaner engines and equipment.
• Use GPS devices to provide data that track machinery’s run time and idle time.

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