Bottom line environmentalism

Encouraging businesses to be “green” and also shoulder the financial implications that accompany those efforts stirs emotions on both sides of the debate.

By Paul Parker

Parker

Heavy equipment owners make their living and help sustain our economy with machines that some consider environmentally irresponsible. It’s a harsh judgment that becomes less accurate every day.

When it comes to the environment, it’s tough to escape scrutiny. If you drive a car, consume fossil fuel, electricity or purchase goods that come in a disposable container you’re under the microscope. The bar is set rather high.

Encouraging businesses to be “green” and also shoulder the financial implications that accompany those efforts stirs emotions on both sides of the debate.

At some point it is in our best interest to get past the political posturing and rhetoric and address the real issue: How can we meet environmental standards with the least impact to our bottom lines? Restricting work schedules through legislation is short-sighted and at this time (fortunately) unlikely, but a somewhat similar, more business-friendly approach is properly training operators to work more efficiently.

From a strictly dollars-and-cents perspective, safety training pays for itself by reducing accidents and avoiding OSHA fines. Classes on proper operating technique take it a step further: Fuller buckets and faster cycles add up, and over the course of a larger project can shave hours or even days off both expenses and emissions. Teaching technique also reduces the repair bills that accompany equipment abuse.

Another approach to lowering emissions is retrofitting your current machine’s exhaust with an EPA-approved reduction technology. The positives include a smaller investment -- even grant eligible in some cases -- and having a manufacturer warranty.

Replacing or rebuilding an engine to current EPA standards will bring a better return on your dollars and is also grant eligible. Assuming your frame, cab and major components have the operating hours left in them, you can significantly extend machine life. Before heading down this road, research the process. Will the new engine fit in the old engine compartment? What other parts need to be updated to transfer power to the rest of your machine?

The next option is replacing the old unit with a new one. Grant money once again can come into play and may surpass the trade-in value. But don’t think that is the only way to practice bottom-line environmentalism. Based on EPA ratings, a certified Tier 3 engine produces less than a third of the emissions of the best performing Tier 0 counterpart. When Tier 4 rated engines hit the market they will produce even less particulates. That addresses the “green” side of things. What about saving money?

Lower maintenance costs at the start of ownership help, but they are an expense over which you have limited control. Cutting fuel consumption is different. When you consider that the price of diesel will likely increase in the future, fuel savings are the surest way to make a difference.

When looking at the total cost of ownership, make fuel consumption comparisons a central part of your research. Stack your potential new machine choices against each other and against your current unit. Replacing older, high horsepower machines that work a full schedule will bring the most bang for your buck, especially if you keep and maintain the new unit for more than just a few years. If you are willing to download and evaluate files from your unit’s on-board computer system, you can take things even further by addressing excessive idle time and other wasteful or harmful operator practices that currently fly under the equipment supervisor’s radar.

Hybrid heavy equipment has been under development and is now starting to enter the marketplace. Hybrid cars have largely been an exercise in feel-good technology, but haven’t been economical because of the amount of time required to cover their higher prices.

Environmental issues remain heavily politicized and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon. In the meantime, don’t let passion and politics distract you from taking the most reasonable, effective approaches in the way you operate. You can be an activist as well, for your business.