Multiplex has set ambitious regional and global sustainability targets to lead the construction industry, which is demonstrated on the OmniaBio B job site.
Cooper Equipment Rentals
How to charge electric machines and power job sites
While you can charge many small machines with a common household outlet, larger equipment needs more – and the more power you can put into your electric machine, the faster it will charge. Training your workers to operate and charge electric equipment is important for the success of the machine. Any time there is a pause in the day the batteries should be charging. It’s also best practice to charge batteries from mid-level to full, as opposed to draining the battery completely before recharging.
In the short-term, we can expect to see a move toward battery banks; their sole purpose is to provide remote charging capabilities. While industrial generators are great for powering large operations, they’re inconvenient to transport and undermine emission-cutting efforts. Portable battery banks or power stations will help fill the gap for temporary energy sources for compact equipment. Building an electric infrastructure involves a lot of moving parts. Support from your rental partner that includes the right-sized equipment, generators, job site data, and charging stations is one way to stay ahead of the game.
Global construction company looks to green solutions to meet net-zero emissions targets
For global construction company Multiplex, finding an equipment partner that aligns with its innovative sustainability goals is key to success. Multiplex set ambitious regional and global targets to lead the construction industry. This is the first construction company in North America to set a science-based target aligned with the Paris Agreement and one of its key action areas is to have zero on-site emissions by 2030. This includes 50 percent of on-site equipment powered by renewables including electrification, green hydrogen, or biofuels from waste. In 2017, Cooper Equipment Rentals started working with Multiplex, and we now provide both electric and traditional diesel-powered equipment for job sites across the GTA.
When Multiplex started working on the OmniaBio B site in Hamilton, Ontario, the company saw an opportunity to pilot the use of an alternative fuel and renewable energy sources like biodiesel. This ultra-fast-tracked project is the first component of the master plan for the McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton and is designed with a focus on sustainability and the environment at its core.
“We reached out directly to Cooper to try and understand what type of opportunities were available for biodiesel. We knew they would be the perfect partner for this, and they jumped at the opportunity to get involved. They provided us with the right guidance and advice to make the transition a smooth one,” comments Anya Barkan, Multiplex sustainability manager.
Biodiesel was provided by 4 Refuel. Biodiesel is a renewable energy source produced from organic matter or biomass such as corn, sugar, vegetable oils, or waste feedstocks. Biodiesel also offers a CO2 emissions reduction of 15 percent when compared to traditional diesel, which can help companies like Multiplex in reducing GHG emissions.
Our team also helps Multiplex track monthly fuel usage, a key part of Scope 1 emissions that fall under its Science Based Target Decarbonisation Roadmap. As a company on a journey to provide more sustainable solutions to customers, we’re thrilled to partner with Multiplex – we’re collaborating to make construction sites greener without compromising work quality.
“The path Multiplex has chosen is really inspiring – they’re willing to try something new and they want to measure the impact of the changes they’re making. We’re looking forward to helping them strike that balance between productivity and environmental goals,” says Scott MacKinnon, director of sales for Cooper Equipment Rentals.
Innovation is rarely a direct and singular path. Electric equipment will continue to evolve, and we’ll see biodiesel and other alternative fuel adoption continue to grow – especially when it’s an easy substitution for fossil fuels.
Rod Lentino has over 15 years experience in the equipment rental industry and is currently the director of rental at Cooper Equipment Rentals, one of the fastest growing rental businesses in Canada.
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