Construction Pollutants
Construction work is essential in order for our society to expand and develop. However, construction work can take a toll on the environment and the community around it. Air, water, and noise pollution are the three main pollutants that affect the environment and community.
Air pollution mainly comes from the toxins emitted by the construction equipment. According to the US EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, “A single bulldozer engine can emit as much particulate matter as more than 500 cars”(Construction equipment, 2015). Construction equipment emits nitrogen oxide (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) (Gray, 2015).
Water pollution can be caused by run offs from construction …show more content…
Engine repowering is when engines are replaced with newer engines that follow emission standards. When replacing the engine, they add emission reducing parts. There are also some benefits to the company when the emission reducing parts are added to the equipment. The parts can extend the equipment life, save fuel, and can lower the amount of maintenance on the equipment. However, the main problem with engine repowering is the cost. Engine repowering can cost up to $120,000 (U.S. EPA, 2007, p. 31). One way for construction companies to help pay for it is by asking the city they work in for a grant. More than likely, the city will fulfill the grant to help lessen the pollutants being released in the …show more content…
They are the most widely used option in the world. Solar panels are expensive to install, but once they are paid for there is no cost at all for them. This is because solar panels have an unlimited resource; the sun’s rays. Solar panels are split up between active solar and passive solar. Active solar is an external way of collecting the sun’s rays to use as energy (“About solar energy”, 2010). They are mounted to the roof of a building that face the south. Active solar is more efficient than passive. Passive solar is an internal way for collecting energy from the sun. Passive solar uses windows to let the sun’s rays in and uses dark-colored materials to trap the energy inside (“About solar energy”, 2010). In order for this type of solar to be efficient, the windows have to be facing the south to be able to collect the most sun.
Geothermal Heating
Another method for green alternatives is geothermal heating. Geothermal heating uses the earth’s ground temperature to heat and cool buildings. A heat pump is placed in the ground to absorb the earth’s heat and transfer it to the building. The ground stays at a constant temperature during the seasons to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. Geothermal heating is expensive to install, but it can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool buildings.
Construction work is essential in order for our society to expand and develop. However, construction work can take a toll on the environment and the community around it. Air, water, and noise pollution are the three main pollutants that affect the environment and community.
Air pollution mainly comes from the toxins emitted by the construction equipment. According to the US EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, “A single bulldozer engine can emit as much particulate matter as more than 500 cars”(Construction equipment, 2015). Construction equipment emits nitrogen oxide (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) (Gray, 2015).
Water pollution can be caused by run offs from construction …show more content…
Engine repowering is when engines are replaced with newer engines that follow emission standards. When replacing the engine, they add emission reducing parts. There are also some benefits to the company when the emission reducing parts are added to the equipment. The parts can extend the equipment life, save fuel, and can lower the amount of maintenance on the equipment. However, the main problem with engine repowering is the cost. Engine repowering can cost up to $120,000 (U.S. EPA, 2007, p. 31). One way for construction companies to help pay for it is by asking the city they work in for a grant. More than likely, the city will fulfill the grant to help lessen the pollutants being released in the …show more content…
They are the most widely used option in the world. Solar panels are expensive to install, but once they are paid for there is no cost at all for them. This is because solar panels have an unlimited resource; the sun’s rays. Solar panels are split up between active solar and passive solar. Active solar is an external way of collecting the sun’s rays to use as energy (“About solar energy”, 2010). They are mounted to the roof of a building that face the south. Active solar is more efficient than passive. Passive solar is an internal way for collecting energy from the sun. Passive solar uses windows to let the sun’s rays in and uses dark-colored materials to trap the energy inside (“About solar energy”, 2010). In order for this type of solar to be efficient, the windows have to be facing the south to be able to collect the most sun.
Geothermal Heating
Another method for green alternatives is geothermal heating. Geothermal heating uses the earth’s ground temperature to heat and cool buildings. A heat pump is placed in the ground to absorb the earth’s heat and transfer it to the building. The ground stays at a constant temperature during the seasons to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. Geothermal heating is expensive to install, but it can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool buildings.