Fourth and fifth graders from P.S. 115 in Brooklyn, N.Y., learned about the newest environmentally friendly construction equipment — a Komatsu Hybrid PC200LC-8 — when they visited a construction site adjacent to the Canarsie Pier near exit 13 of the Belt Parkway on Dec. 1.
The students were issued hard hats and invited to sit in the cab of the excavator while engineers from Komatsu, construction workers from Tully Construction and Skanska USA Civil Northeast and Posillico Civil, and representatives from Edward Ehrbar Inc. and the General Contractors Association of New York demonstrated the equipment to the students and explained to them the importance of balancing development projects and the environment.
The excavator, unveiled at a bridge construction site, joint ventured by Tully and Posillico, at the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, N.Y., is the first mass production hybrid excavator for heavy construction equipment designed to go “green,” by reducing pollution green gases and the energy required to rebuild New York’s roadways and infrastructure.
“The members of the GCA are not only interested in providing the most reliable and affordable infrastructure possible to the taxpayers of New York, but we want to make sure that the equipment we use is environmentally friendly,” said Denise Richardson, the managing director of the General Contractors Association of New York (GCA), the association that represents New York City’s unionized heavy civil public works contractors. “The introduction of this ’green’ state-of-the-art excavator represents the future of city construction sites. It will reduce CO2 emissions by 25 tons per year, lower fuel consumption by 25 to 40 percent and help improve the quality of life of those living adjacent to construction sites.”
“Komatsu’s decision to apply its engineering excellence to the largest construction machine segment clearly signals our commitment to developing environment-friendly equipment,” said Dave Grzelak, chairman and CEO of Komatsu America Corp. “Since the company’s inception, Komatsu has been setting the global standard for technology and engineering excellence and today that tradition continues with the introduction of the Hybrid PC200LC-8 excavator.”
According to Patrick Ahern, president of Edward Ehrbar Inc., the distributor of the excavator, “the Hybrid PC200LC-8 uses a newly developed electric swing motor, power generator motor, capacitor and diesel engine which saves energy and reduces pollution by providing fast energy storage and instantaneous power transmission.”
“Two years ago, the City Council passed a law to reduce New York City’s greenhouse gas footprint by 30 percent by 2030 and to realize this 30 percent reduction, our city must partner with those who build and repair our great city,” Councilman James F. Gennaro said. “I applaud the General Contractors Association and Komatsu for its sustainable efforts to cut emissions incrementally and prudently as New York progresses in this century.”
“Green construction practices, and sustainable technologies have been gaining support for years because of rising energy prices and heightened concerns about global warming and the environment,” said Peter Tully, president of Tully Construction. “The Hybrid PC200LC-8 only underscores our industry’s commitment to creating eco-friendly construction projects which will help the environment and save taxpayers money.”
“Much of the pollution associated with construction activities can be averted if our industry continues to utilize cutting edge technology like the Hybrid PC200LC-8,” said Joseph Posillico III, vice president of Posillico Civil. “For the benefit of those who live and work nearby, and for the construction workers themselves, every effort needs to be made to make the construction process more environmentally friendly.”
“Our members can take pride in the fact that they are not only rebuilding the infrastructure of New York City, but they are now utilizing construction equipment that reduces the negative impact on our environment,” said James Callahan, president and business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 15, whose members will operate the Hybrid PC200LC-8.
The hybrid excavator will be used in the reconstruction of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn beginning early next year and Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Queens.
“Skanska is pleased to be unveiling such groundbreaking equipment on one of our sites,” said Michael Cobelli, executive vice president, Skanska USA Civil Northeast. “Use of this new technology will allow Skanska to continue building some of the city’s most important infrastructure projects while doing our part to protect the environment for its residents. This further boosts Skanska’s goal of being at the forefront of sustainable construction.”
Edward Ehrbar Inc. is the local distributor for Komatsu America in the NYC metro and surrounding areas as well as Fairfield County, Connecticut.
For more information, visit www.komatsuamerica.com, or www.ehrbar.com.
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