Industrial projects are no longer judged solely by schedule and cost constraints. In fact, communities now consider a project by how it sounds, smells, and looks. Regulators now assign numbers to those effects as well. That’s why reducing emissions and noise is not only about compliance; it’s about making a project socially acceptable and robust. Here are some strategies that teams can use to reduce the footprint of a job.
Using Right-Sized Temporary Equipment
A surprising amount of emissions and noise on a job site can be caused by background equipment that no one even notices. There will be:
- Generators humming in the corner
- Compressors running all day
- Dryers that were supposed to be on some other job but moved in
This equipment works just fine on its own, but it can all add up quickly. That’s why it’s better to take power and compressed air as engineered, temporary systems. It means you don’t have to rely on whatever compressor happens to be sitting in the yard but get something assembled based on your needs.
Newer rental fleets, like Holt air compressor rentals can help in this regard, as they allow you to configure single units or complete systems with oil-free, oil-flooded, and desiccant-drying options. New equipment is likely to be:
- More efficient in energy use
- Cleaner in emissions
- Quieter in design
From an emissions perspective, right-sizing capacity matters a lot, as it helps avoid the common situations, like a large diesel compressor running at low load for most of the shift, which is inefficient from an exhaust and fuel point of view.
The use of oil-free compressors in sensitive environments also minimizes the risk of fugitive oil aerosol emissions and noise. The same is true for noise. Newer industrial compressors and their air treatment equipment tends to be quieter in their design, making it important to get the right sized equipment instead of going for what’s available already.
Taking Advantage of Phased Scheduling
Another huge source of noise and pollution is not just how loud and polluting a job is, but when it’s performed and for how long. Industrial work, for instance, tends to accumulate in peaks:
- Many trades are called in for a short period
- Many cranes are used simultaneously
- Heavy concrete work is performed
- Blasting and cutting are scheduled for a short period
A better option would be to stretch out these tasks over a period of time. That’s where phased scheduling comes into the picture. First, it involves identifying the most impactful jobs, such as pile driving, heavy demolition, or diesel crane usage. Then, these activities are clustered into controlled windows, typically during the day, with quieter and electrical work scheduled in the early morning or evening.
The idea is to not let each trade operate at full blast at the time they prefer, but have a schedule to maintain a more reasonable sound level and peak exhaust rates. It also means there has to be a different set of constraints for planners and supervisors. Schedules may also consider noise budgets by time block, and occasionally local regulations and agreements for the best results.
It’s also a good idea to use control systems, such as programmable logical controllers and building management systems to limit the number of pieces of equipment operating at the same time, eventually reducing emissions and climate anxiety.
Endnote
A project that treats noise and emissions as design variables usually runs more smoothly and attracts less opposition. Remember, the idea is to invest a bit of thought into how to proceed and focus on temporary equipment and proper scheduling. This way, teams can secure noticeable reductions without resorting to exotic technology.
