Cleaning Up Dirty Generator Exhaust with CleanAIR’s Big Stainless Steel Box

Diesel emergency generators made “greener” using emissions control technology

Santa Fe, NM – February 14, 2008 – In today’s “green” economy, there’s a dirty little secret hiding behind many hospitals, colleges and data storage centers. It’s the diesel emergency generator.

Belching soot, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, diesel exhaust created by back-up generators is a proven cause of cardiovascular and pulmonary health problems. The National Air Toxics Assessment estimates the cancer risk from exposure to diesel emissions is ten times higher than the combined cancer risk from all other hazardous air pollutants. Diesel emissions also contribute to atmospheric haze, smog, acid rain and global climate change.

Although a necessity when the power grid fails to deliver, industrial diesel generators create an unhealthy situation, particularly when operated next to hospitals and schools. Back-up generators are also a little-known “ungreen” reality of today’s giant data storage facilities.

When sooty generator emissions are clouding the horizon, there is a solution. Turning brown emissions “green” can be done with a big shiny, stainless steel box developed by CleanAIR Systems. When attached to an emergency generator, brown smoke and toxic emissions are almost eliminated.

What’s in this mysterious box that makes emissions disappear? Is it all just smoke and mirrors? Hardly. The answer can be found in multiple self-regenerating diesel particulate filters enclosed in a sleek, stainless steel, ultra-quiet silencer shell manufactured by CleanAIR Systems, a leader in emissions control technology. The CleanAIR PERMIT™ Filter/Silencer system dramatically reduces dirty soot (particulate matter) from generator exhaust by more than 85%. The amount of smelly hydrocarbons and deadly carbon monoxide also plunges by 99%.

How many emergency generators are in use pumping toxic emissions into our atmosphere? Taking into account that the majority of hospitals, colleges and data centers require back-up power to operate in case of a power failure, consider these statistics:
- According to the American Hospital Association, there are over 5,700 registered U.S. hospitals. Critical care facilities rely heavily on back-up generators in the event of a power outage.

- The American Association of Community Colleges lists 1,195 community colleges. Most colleges have at least one emergency generator (and some have several) on campus to keep buildings up and running in case of a blackout.

- AFCOM (Association for Computer Operations Management) counts 3,600 of the world’s largest data storage centers as members, representing every major industry. Back-up generators are a critical element of every data storage facility in order not to loose crucial data when the power goes out.

When other commercial and public facilities such as mining operations, semiconductors, and credit card companies are included in the count, there are an estimated 100,000 industrial standby generators currently operating in the United States alone.

What’s being done to control emissions on thousands of emergency generators? In California, air quality regulations for emergency generators are stringent and well enforced, many times requiring emissions control technology such as CleanAIR’s Filter/Silencer to be installed by the facility, especially if a generator is in operation within the vicinity of a school. But regulations in other parts of the country have more leeway, allowing many emergency generators to be operated without air pollution controls.

With thousands of large, emergency generators spewing harmful air pollution into our environment, maybe it’s time we clean up our dirty little secret.

###

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Our products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

Controlling Air Pollution - Predictions for 2008

Santa Fe, NM – December 12, 2007 - CleanAIR Systems, a leader in emissions control technology, has drawn upon their daily interaction with regulatory standards, original equipment manufacturers and businesses using air pollution control products, to forecast their “Air Pollution Control - Predictions for 2008”.

The issue of air pollution and how to control it was a hot topic in 2007, particularly with climate change and serious health issues caused by pollutants topping the list of public concerns. As a result, the industry of emissions control technology has become a fast-growing market segment trying to keep pace with mounting demand for cleaner air.

Over the past fifteen years, CleanAIR Systems has seen a significant change in air quality regulations and public attitude towards cleaning up the air we breathe. Since 1993, the company has developed and manufactured several new technologies to control emission pollutants such as diesel particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and NOx.

What lies ahead in 2008 for the emissions control industry and air pollution reduction?

CleanAIR Systems predicts the following:

An increase in the development of new emissions control technologies.
With new air quality and energy regulations constantly coming into affect, demand is high for evolving technologies to bring emissions under control in order to meet regulatory standards for vehicles, stationary engines and power plants.

The acquisition and merger of companies involved in emissions control.
With the recent acquisition of several major players in the field of control technology, the future will see more purchases as large entities look for existing companies to fulfill their emission control needs and become a part of their corporate umbrella.

More state and regional air quality regulations being passed.
Rather than rely on the federal government to set air quality standards, individual states and regional coalitions are going to task and passing their own regulations. Following the lead of strict California standards already in place, this trend will increase with environmental and citizen-action groups such as Utah Moms for Clean Air, joining forces with local and state governments to fight for tougher air quality laws.

An increase in emissions control in the Asian market.
The upcoming Beijing Olympics and several controversial pollution reports have made the issue of China’s ever-increasing air pollution a worldwide problem. With a reported 400,000 Chinese dying prematurely each year from air pollution related illnesses and a new coal-fired power plant coming into operation every few days, bringing modern emissions control technology to China will be a global necessity.

Acceptance of the diesel vehicle as a means to increase fuel economy and decrease emissions.
Diesel cars and trucks are not the same dirty engines they use to be. They get 30% better fuel economy than traditional gas vehicles (therefore creating less pollution). Today’s new diesel cars and trucks also run on Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel and boast ever-more efficient pollution control technology to substantially reduce particulate matter, sulfur and NOx emissions. Diesels emit less CO2 than gasoline vehicles and can also run on biodiesel. In Europe, diesel vehicles are now the car of choice and are gaining more of a foot hold in the U.S. with the knowledge that diesel doesn’t mean dirty anymore.

###

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at www.cleanairsys.com.

Tags: CleanAIR Systems, 2008 predictions, air pollution control, emissions control technology, controlling emissions, air quality regulations, air quality laws, air pollution laws


Extras:
Grab a CleanAIR Photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cleanairsystems/sets/72157600129494902/

Use a CleanAIR Logo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cleanairsystems/sets/72157600051732170

See a Product Slide Show: http://www.cleanairsys.com/multi-media/slideshows/index.htm

View a CleanAIR Video: http://www.cleanairsys.com/multi-media/video/index.htm

Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com

Diesel School Bus Becomes First to Receive Pollution Control Retrofit in Puerto Rico

Improving Air Quality for School Children

Santa Fe, NM – May 30, 2007 – Exhaust from diesel school buses can be dangerous to the health of children. Puerto Rico has decided it’s time to do something about it.

In May, the country unveiled its first school bus retrofitted with emissions control technology to reduce toxic diesel emissions and improve air quality for Puerto Rican school children.

According to an article published in the journal Population Research and Policy Review, “Puerto Rican children are more likely to have asthma than children in any other racial/ethnic group in the United States.” As noted in a study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health, and the Coalition for Clean Air, riding a diesel school bus may increase the risk of cancer and aggravate respiratory problems in children. Recently E/The Environmental Magazine reported diesel emissions are classified by the EPA as a “likely carcinogen”, with dangers of breathing diesel exhaust ranging from respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis to lung cancer and heart disease. In Puerto Rico, this health threat is especially true for children already impacted by asthma.

The retrofitted diesel school bus was presented during a ceremony in San Juan at the Polytechnic University on May 11th. Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator of the EPA, discussed the benefits of providing air pollution control equipment for aging vehicles. “Pollution from school buses has health implications for everyone, especially asthmatic children. By developing local capacity and promoting the Clean School Bus program in Puerto Rico, where more kids suffer from asthma than anywhere else in the U.S., we are progressively reducing diesel pollution to make that familiar black puff of smoke a relic of the past.”

Air pollution control products and services to retrofit the bus were provided by emissions control manufacturer, CleanAIR Systems, Inc., working in conjunction with emissions reduction consultant, Emisstar. The retrofitted bus is the start of a national initiative aimed at cleaning up school buses throughout the country as a joint effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Puerto Rico Clean School Bus USA Workgroup.

Launched in 2003 by the EPA, Clean School Bus USA is a voluntary partnership with the goal of reducing children’s exposure to diesel exhaust through the reduction of unnecessary bus idling, providing funding to retrofit buses with emissions control technology, and replacing older buses with less-polluting models. The majority of Puerto Rican school buses were built prior to 2004. They generate a significant amount of pollutants such as fine particulate matter and can release up to six times more pollution than buses built after 2004. CleanAIR Systems provided the program with an ASSURE DOC (diesel oxidation converter) which will cut school bus emissions of particulate matter by at least 20%, hydrocarbons by 50% and carbon monoxide by at least 60%. The CleanAIR ASSURE DOC can be used with either diesel or biodiesel fuels.

“We’re glad we were able to make a difference in Puerto Rico when it came to cleaning up their school buses,” said Ralph Wintersberger, CleanAIR Sales Engineer. “Emisstar brought this to our attention and jointly our two companies worked with the EPA to get this program off the ground.”

“Emisstar is pleased to lend our expertise to this exciting and important first step in improving the health and well-being of school children in Puerto Rico,” added Glenn Goldstein, Emisstar Principal.

Puerto Rico has also joined the Northeast Diesel Collaborative, allowing it to compete for future EPA grant money in order to purchase air pollution control equipment to retrofit the rest of their bus fleet.

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.


Extras --
The Facts:
The majority of school buses in Puerto Rico are older models which produce six times more pollution than buses manufactured after 2004, creating an unhealthy atmosphere for Puerto Rican school children and contributing to an already high rate of asthma.

Retrofitting their first diesel school bus with emissions control technology supplied pro bono by CleanAIR Systems, Inc., Puerto Rico works with the EPA to establish the Puerto Rico Clean School Bus USA Workgroup.

Information Sources:
Population Research and Policy Review 2005:
Premature Birth and Asthma Among Young Puerto Rican Children
by Bridget K. Gorman and Nancy S. Landale

Environmental Health Perspectives - August 2002
Bad Grades for School Buses – Children’s Health
By Angela Spivey

Emagazine.com – The Environmental Magazine
May 20, 2007
Are my kids breathing in dangerous exhaust fumes by riding the school bus?

Quotes:
“We’re glad we were able to make a difference in Puerto Rico when it came to cleaning up their school buses,” said Ralph Wintersberger, CleanAIR Sales Engineer. “Emisstar brought this to our attention and jointly our two companies worked with the EPA to get this program off the ground.”

“Emisstar is pleased to lend our expertise to this exciting and important first step in improving the health and well-being of school children in Puerto Rico,” added Glenn Goldstein, Emisstar Principal.

View press release as PDF

Find High Resolution Photos for this press release

Use a CleanAIR Logo

See a Slide Show with examples of the ASSURE DOC

View a Video

Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com

Cleaning Up Emissions

Santa Fe, NM – May 15, 2007 – CleanAIR Systems, a leading manufacturer of air pollution control products, has launched the PERMIT Filter/Silencer as a new addition to their line of diesel particulate filters. The Filter/Silencer is designed to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce noise from prime power and emergency generators. Facilities and companies with generators are already familiar with silencers installed to lessen engine noise. In today’s green economy, silencer products need to do more. With the enforcement of stringent pollution regulations, generator owners also need emissions control technology along with sound reduction to meet demanding air quality laws. Using CleanAIR PERMIT Filters, which are verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet the strictest air pollution laws in the United States, the PERMIT Filter/Silencer meets both requirements.

In the United States alone, there are an estimated 100,000 industrial standby generators. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them. Most are used on a limited basis by commercial and public facilities such as colleges, critical care facilities and data storage centers in case of an emergency. These generators are run periodically for routine testing and maintenance. But some facilities also use their generators as prime power to minimize peak power loads on the electrical grid. During operation diesel generators emit a variety of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons – all of which can cause serious health issues, especially for children and older adults. Due to our need for energy, generators and the air pollution they produce have become a part of every community.

Recent reports by the Clean Air Task Force, Environmental Health Perspectives and The Coalition for Clean Air all detail the dangers of fine particulate matter (PM) pollution. The health impact of particulate air pollution ranges from asthma attacks and lung cancer to cardiac problems and decreased life expectancy. The World Health Organization estimates that thousands of deaths each year may be caused by exposure to PM. And the American Lung Association believes fine air-borne particulate represents our most serious health threat. Not only is particulate matter a global environmental hazard, but also a dangerous health problem.

With this in mind, CleanAIR Systems designed the PERMIT Filter/Silencer to be installed on the exhaust of a generator, eliminating visible black smoke, toxic diesel odor and noise while the engine is running. Available for all stationary engine sizes, emissions of particulate matter are substantially reduced by more than 85% and emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%.

“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

The PERMIT Filter/Silencer is custom designed to fit each job. Its stainless steel construction is corrosion-resistant; thereby extending the life of the product. By using more durable, light-weight stainless steel, the Filter/Silencer offers a 50% total weight reduction over average silencer-only products, allowing for easier installation and shipping. Each PERMIT Filter/Silencer is also fully insulated to reduce heat loss and provide sound reduction.

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

Although we have come to rely on diesel generators for essential backup power, as in the case of school, emergency facilities and hospitals, they can also be cleaned up with readily available emissions control technology. Diesel particulate matter and other pollutants are eliminated when a generator is retrofitted with a CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer, helping to decrease the impact of diesel air pollution on our health and the environment.

For more information on the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer visit http://www.cleanairsys.com/products/filters/index.htm

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.


Extras:
The Facts:
-- CleanAIR Systems introduces the PERMIT Filter/Silencer, an air pollution control product for generators, to substantially reduce emissions of dangerous particulate matter by greater than 85%, and carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%., as well as reduce noise levels.

-- Particulate matter is considered a global environmental hazard and a dangerous health problem. There are an estimated 100,000 industrial emergency and prime power generators in use in the United States. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them.

-- The PERMIT Filter/Silencer can be installed by any facility with a generator to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce sound. Examples: schools and college campuses, waste water treatment centers, hospital and critical care facilities, emergency shelters, data storage centers, manufacturing facilities, private companies, municipal buildings, correctional facilities, mining operations, farm operations using pumping equipment, and power generation facilities.

-- The CleanAIR Filter/Silencer combines the benefits of a silencer for sound reduction and the benefits of diesel particulate filters for emissions control, into one space-saving unit. Containing CARB verified PERMIT filters, the CleanAIR Filter/Silencer has all-stainless steel construction and is fully insulated for sound attenuation. Available for all engines sizes, the custom-designed PERMIT Filter/Silencer is rust resistant, light weight, and easy to install.

Quotes:
“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

Find High Resolution Photos for this press release

Use a CleanAIR Logo

See a Slide Show with examples of the PERMIT Filter/Silencer

View a Video to see how the PERMIT Filter/Silencer works on a generator

Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com

New Mexico Tops List for Cleanest Cities in the U.S.A.

The Facts:

• The American Lung Association ranks three New Mexico cities in the top ten cleanest cities for long-term particle pollution in their annual State of the Air Report 2007.
  
• The cities are: Santa Fe - #2, Farmington - #5, Albuquerque - #10.
  
• The study looked at various factors such as ozone pollution and soot levels in ranking US cities as having high levels of air pollution (top 25 most polluted cities) or low levels of air pollution (top 25 cleanest cities).
  
• New Mexico also ranked high in the Top 25 Cleanest Counties for Long-Term Particle Pollution. The counties chosen were: Santa Fe - #6, Grant - #15, and San Juan - #19.
  
• Santa Fe, New Mexico is also home to CleanAIR Systems, one of the country’s top companies for emissions controls technology, specializing in controlling emissions of particulate matter (soot) and NOx, (which contributes to ozone pollution and smog.)

Quotes:

• “Having fourteen years of experience in the field of air pollution control, CleanAIR Systems is thrilled that our home state ranked so high with three of the top ten spots for cleanest cities. We chose Santa Fe for our business because it is clean and environmentally aware.”
  Michael Roach, President CleanAIR Systems
  
• “We sell our products all of over the world, trying to make a better environment. It would be great if everyone could have the air quality we have here in New Mexico.”
  Tom Mosley, CleanAIR Customer Service Representative

Release:

Santa Fe, NM – May 3, 2007 – The American Lung Association released its annual “State of the Air 2007” report on May 1st. Included in the analysis were three New Mexican metropolitan areas, ranking at the top of the list for cleanest cities in the U.S.A. CleanAIR Systems, a Santa Fe manufacturer of air pollution control technology, immediately took note of the news as an opportunity to congratulate its home state on an environmental job well done.

CleanAIR’s field of expertise is in reducing particle pollution from vehicles and stationary machinery. They have also entered the market of selective catalytic reduction for NOx emissions. NOx is a contributing pollutant to ground-level ozone and smog. As both pollutants are the basis of the American Lung Association’s annual report, CleanAIR takes special interest each year in the results.

The study looked at various factors such as ozone pollution and soot levels in deciding which US cities have the highest and lowest levels of air pollution. Santa Fe-Espanola came in at number two under the Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Long-Term Particle Pollution. Farmington was 5th and Albuquerque was tenth on the list. Los Angeles came in at number one on three different lists as the dirtiest city.

“Having fourteen years of experience in the field of air pollution control, CleanAIR Systems is thrilled that our home state ranked so high, having three of the top ten spots for cleanest cities. We chose Santa Fe for our business because it is clean and environmentally aware,” explained Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems.

New Mexico also ranked high on the list for the Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Counties for Long-Term Particle Pollution. The counties chosen were: Santa Fe County at #6, Grant County at #15, and San Juan County made the list at #19.

“We sell our products all of over the world, trying to make a better environment. It would be great if everyone could have the air quality we have here in New Mexico,” added CleanAIR Customer Service Representative, Tom Mosley.

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

Extras --

• Source Information:
  American Lung Association State of the Air 2007
  Air Quality Press Relesase
  
• View press release as PDF
  
• Find High Resolution Photos from CleanAIR
  
• Use a CleanAIR Logo
  
• See a Slide Show
  
• View a Video

Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com