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What is Clean Green Air? |
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The United States faces mounting energy and environmental concerns in the midst of growing economic uncertainties. Commercializing new technologies will take time and money, bringing added value to those which can bring immediate, cost-effective solutions. Conserving energy through the use of more fuel efficient technologies cannot wait decades. From new clean diesel cars to big-rig trucks and off-road construction and farm equipment, a new generation of clean diesel technology is in place, using a combination of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel; advanced, fuel efficient diesel engines; and highly effective emissions controls. Clean diesel technology is an alternative energy source that can play a leading role in addressing these challenges.
Why Clean Diesel?
- Energy Savings and Environmental Benefits Will Be Gained Immediately: Clean diesel cars and light trucks are available today and can begin saving energy now. Diesel hybrid transit buses, school buses, and work trucks are on the roads and entering commercialized production. Utilities, transit agencies and school districts are already realizing a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
- Clean Diesel Technology Will Lower GHG Emissions and Oil Imports: Diesel engines are the most energy efficient internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel has 10-12 percent more energy per gallon. New clean diesel cars are increasing in availability, deliver gasoline-equivalent emissions, are 20-40 percent more fuel efficient and emit 10- 20 percent less CO2.
- Clean Diesel Technology Provides a Platform for Other Alternative Technologies: The combination of clean diesel engines coupled with hybrid technologies is growing in popularity because of its ability to maximize fuel savings and emission reductions. Hybrid diesel electric technology is well established as the most advanced urban transit bus technology. Further use is being expanded to a wide range of vehicles and equipment including locomotives, commercial delivery and refuse trucks, some construction equipment and even passenger vehicles. Diesel engines in use today can also use high quality biodiesel blends and next generation renewable diesel fuels.
- Manufacturing, Using, and Maintaining Clean Diesel Vehicles Supports Green Technology Jobs: An economic stimulus package that focuses on repairing and upgrading the nation’s infrastructure of roads and bridges will use diesel powered construction equipment. Rail, bus, truck and marine transportation are vital to all industries and are largely diesel powered. Building, operating, and repairing new clean diesel vehicles and retrofitting older ones employs millions of people across the country. Investment in this technology helps the economy as well as the environment.
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What Is Diesel Exhaust?
 Diesel exhaust contains a mixture of thousands of different chemical substances. Many of the components of diesel exhaust, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxides, hydrocarbon gases and diesel particulate matter (soot), arsenic and benzene, can cause health problems. Diesel exhaust contains 20-100 times more harmful particles than gasoline exhaust.
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Health Effects of Diesel Exhaust
Due to expanding use of diesel equipment, more and more workers are exposed to diesel exhaust. More than one million workers are exposed to diesel exhaust and face the risk of adverse health effects, ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer and respiratory disease. Such workers include mine workers, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling machine operators, farm workers, longshoring employees, and auto, truck and bus maintenance garage workers.
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