Greenwash Fears Have Equipment Makers Rolling Ahead Slowly
In some ways the green movement has created a new generation of skeptics by generating doubt about the benefits of new products and services designed to mitigate human impact on the environment. But “greenwash” charges should not be lathered on the ones that really do deliver the goods. In heavy construction equipment, there is a huge opportunity for machinery to move down the green path, and some manufacturers are gingerly moving in that direction.
Caterpillar Inc. is about to go into production with its diesel-electric dozer, which is 25% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. Intelligent compaction is another area that promises to cut down guesswork by 50% or more. That translates directly into less fuel burned and fewer emissions, while potentially saving taxpayers billions of dollars by improving the quality of the world’s infrastructure.