Copenhagen and Oslo are collaborating on procuring climate-friendly heavy machinery. The two capitals are the first in the world with such an investment.

When excavators, sweepers and other heavy machinery operate in cities, they affect the climate and the air quality. The so-called ‘non-road mobile machinery’, which one can hear roaring at construction sites all over Denmark, accounts for about 15 per cent of the total particle pollution at national level.

Therefore, the capitals of Denmark and Norway have decided to collaborate on a tender for sustainable and climate-friendly heavy machinery. The municipalities require that the machines be either completely emission-free, i.e. that they do not discharge particles or CO2 at all, or low-emitting, such as hybrids that run on a mixture of diesel and electricity. According to the City of Copenhagen, the two capitals are the first in the world to offer such a tender.

“We know that the machines emit large amounts of particles and CO2, which adversely affect both the climate and the quality of life of Copenhageners. Cooperation with our Nordic neighbours is therefore an important step in the right direction. However, the green conversion of our machinery makes far from the difference alone, as most construction projects in the city are still solved by private contractors,” said Karina Vestergård Madsen, acting Mayor for Technology and Climate in Copenhagen, to the Danish media outlet TV2 Lorry.

Remaining one of the market leaders in Poland, the Scandinavian construction giant  Skanska is  putting its money on the digitalization of the sector.  Joining forces with the companies Intel and Cybercom, Skanska came up with the project called ‘connected helmet’ – also known as smart helmet. In an effort to increase the safety of its workers, the company is equipping safety helmets with sensors, that will automaticaly send the information of any unusual and emergency situation to the company’s office , while providing the employee’s current location.

Source: stateofgreen.com

Photo: Pixabay.com