Columbia Hosts Clean Construction Emissions Reduction Seminar for Industry Professionals
Columbia’s Manhattanville development team hosted 30 clean construction professionals from civil engineering, construction management, and contractor firms, along with representatives from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Sanitation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to learn about effective strategies for monitoring diesel emissions reduction and equipment testing during a free seminar led by Emissions Advantage, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Columbia University.
The Emissions Advantage Emission Reduction Equipment Field Inspection Boot CampSM provided training background for industry professionals working within an emission reduction program who are responsible for inspection and monitoring of in-use vehicles and equipment. An expert from Emissions Advantage instructed participants on locating emissions information, documenting vehicles and equipment subject to emission reduction program requirements, and performing emissions quality control checks. Participants also observed original equipment manufacturer (OEM) post engine emission components and an actual opacity field test of exhaust emissions from a US EPA Tier 4i compliant Caterpillar 966K wheel loader that was provided by Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc.
This event was the second in a series of clean construction seminars held at Columbia, following a day-long instruction on retrofit diesel particular filters held in February 2014. The seminar series continues the university’s long-standing commitment to clean construction and the Manhattanville team’s particular emphasis on it. Columbia will be applying for a LEED Clean Construction Pilot Credit for several buildings at the Manhattanville site.
Philip Pitruzzello, Vice President of Columbia’s Manhattanville Development Group, began the day with a summary of the university’s industry-leading clean construction program. “Columbia is proud to co-sponsor this course and facilitate the development of more trained professionals in the emissions reduction field,” said Pitruzzello. “As more owners and developers require clean construction techniques, the community impacts of construction in dense urban areas will be reduced.”
The event was presented by Thomas J. Timbario, P.E., co-founder and vice president of Emissions Advantage, with more than 30 years in the field of vehicle emission control technologies, advanced vehicle technologies, alternative fuels and their operational deployment.
“Columbia University is providing significant environmental benefits to New York City through the clean construction program established by the Manhattanville Development Group” said Thomas J. Timbario, Vice President of Emissions Advantage. “The workshop we presented provides the background and techniques to individuals responsible for monitoring and inspecting construction equipment to assure compliance with established clean construction requirements that can achieve significant emission reductions in the construction process.”
This article originally appeared on the Columbia Manhattanville website.