RSC Equipment Rental, the operating company of RSC Holdings, last week launched an equipment emission tracking service that automatically calculates greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from diesel powered equipment. The data regarding these emissions are critical for regulatory compliance, voluntary reporting, and carbon footprint reduction. The Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University independently verified the methodology, the formulas and the data collected.

“RSC is the first company in the equipment rental industry to provide customers accurate and detailed emissions data that help them with regulatory guidelines, voluntary reporting, and measuring progress towards sustainability goals,” said Kevin Groman, senior vice president and head of the company’s sustainability efforts. “The launch of this service, which has been in development for more than a year, could not be more timely; on Monday, an executive order was issued by the White House requiring federal agencies to measure, manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward agency-defined targets. Taken together, this executive order, and the EPA’s recently issued rule requiring large U.S. sources and suppliers to collect and annually report their greenhouse gas emissions data, underscore the growing trend toward, and need for, accurate accountability and tracking, and we are excited to provide this beneficial solution to all customers.”

RSC took great lengths to ensure the integrity of the methodology for this tracking solution. The verified formulas include the hours of use, load factor, fuel consumption, density conversion, emission factors and engine horsepower/tier level. The service tracks the greenhouse gas emissions carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, as well as emissions of other key criteria pollutants including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particular matter, and hydrocarbons. The formulas are applicable to diesel-powered equipment with hour meters, which reflects 88 percent of RSC equipment with hour-metered engines. Total greenhouse gas emissions that result from use of the rented equipment are printed on the rental invoices.

“At RSC, we are dedicated to innovating customer solutions that positively impact our customers, our business and the environment,” said Erik Olsson, president and CEO. “With our leading-edge, value-added solutions, we are changing the way our customers use rented equipment and helping them become more sustainable.”

For individual greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants emissions, detailed reports are available through the RSC Online customer portal and Total Control web-based asset management system.

For more information on RSC’s sustainability programs, visit www.RSCrental.com/sustainability.

RSC Equipment Rental, Scottsdale, Ariz., is No 2 on the RER 100.