Cement Manufacturers Association

16 Time is of the essence! New technologies for reducing CO 2 are ready Greenhouse gases, including carbon monoxides, nitrogen oxides, methane gas and fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds, are responsible for global warming. It is an undisputed fact that CO 2 contributes to the greenhouse effect. The substance is generated when fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gas are combusted, primarily through the production of electricity and heat, in households, traffic and industrial production. Construction machinery also contributes in part, while building material plants can have a major impact too. With the Paris Agreement, 195 countries have set a clear objective for the first time: By the year 2050, the output of greenhouse gases must be reduced drastically for global warming to remain clearly below 2° Celsius by the end of the century. Construction machinery – almost ideal Manufacturers of construction machinery have been working tirelessly for the past few decades to bring their machines up to date and reduce emissions. On the one hand, European legislation has dictated the gradual reduction of exhaust emissions since 1996 – although this only marginally affects carbon dioxide – while on the other hand, the cost pressure of fuels have resulted in reducing the consumption of machines, and in turn, the CO 2 emissions. Construction machines have a far more complex engineering architecture than a normal car or truck. There are countless types of machines that are deployed in a wide-ranging sector comprising numerous different application areas. An approach to significantly reducing CO 2 emissions can therefore only be implemented holistically and must include the entire operational process, starting with the equipment installation, its efficiency, operations of equipment, and alternative fuel sources. Increasing digitalization is helping to optimize these processes and make them leaner which is another factor that saves fuel. It is therefore not a viable approach to upgrade old machines (i.e. retrofit) – users should instead invest in modern and cutting- edge construction machinery which meets the increased demands and are optimally designed for the entire operational process. An often underestimated measure is the proper use of construction machinery. An incorrectly planned job, wrong auxiliary equipment, incorrect tire pressures and improper maintenance or a poorly trained operator can make even the most state-of- the-art construction machine look out of place. At this juncture, the responsibility of each individual operator is to ensure that the machine is operated by properly trained staff. Ever more manufacturers are offering their customers the option of training and educating their staff. As part of its “Fuel Efficiency Services,” Martina Scherbel, VDMA Construction Equipent and Plant Engineering, Germany