Internal combustion engines such as portable generators convert fossil fuel to energy and produce undesirable emissions in the process. These emissions are of great concern because of their negative impacts on air quality, the atmosphere, and the planet. Therefore, there have been efforts both at the national and state levels to make laws that regulate the amount of carbon and other emissions produced by engines such as generators.
These regulations were, in the beginning, focused on on-road vehicles. But later on, in the 1990s, the regulations were expanded to include other small off-road engines such as portable power generators.
When deciding on the ideal portable generator to buy, you should consider other factors and not just the electricity generation capacity. Is your portable generator safe for your health and the environment? A generator with less than acceptable emission standards will pose a severe health risk to your household and the environment.
This is where the regulatory bodies come in. In the U.S, emissions and air pollution are regulated by two major organizations – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB)
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California Air Resources Board (CARB)
California was the first state to officially acknowledge the need to initiate laws to regulate air quality. In 1943 the city of Los Angeles was engulfed in heavy smog which affected the health of many residents. They believed it was due to industry, mainly a butadiene factory located just outside the city. However, after the factory was shut down, the air quality didn’t improve. This led to the formation of the Los Angeles County Air Pollution District in 1947. The body was tasked with identifying and monitoring air pollutants from industrial and power generation plants.
In the 1950s, research conducted by a Caltech professor found that hydrocarbons from gasoline and oxides of nitrogen from internal combustion engines were, in fact, responsible for the poor air quality in California. This led to the creation of the Bureau of Air Sanitation. California also introduced the first tailpipe emission standards in the US.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established in 1967. Shortly after, the federal government established the Federal Clean Air Act to set up standards for the regulation of emissions in the U.S. The act recognized the autonomy of CARB in part due to the unique physical characteristics of the state and its impact on air quality control.
The CARB is a California agency responsible for environmental protection matters, particularly air pollution. CARB’s duties include regulating the air quality as well as automobile pollution in California.Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have also adopted CARB standards. The fourteen states include Colorado, Delaware, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Oregon, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Nevada and Virginia are poised to adopt CARB standards starting in 2025.
What Does CARB Compliant Mean?
CARB compliant is frequently used in regard to generators, and refers to any kind of generator that meets the air pollution standards set by CARB. CARB compliant portable generators emit less pollutants than non-CARB compliant generators. That is not to say that they don’t emit any pollutants, but they emit far less than other non-compliant generators. Because CARB standards are stricter than that required in other states, CARB compliant generators are considered the most environmentally friendly and safest generators available.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
At the national level, the EPA is the body responsible for overseeing air pollution issues. The federal agency was established in 1970 in response to the growing concerns over public environmental matters which came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. The EPA was initially focused on preserving the natural environment and improving public health by keeping pollution in check. They monitor and control the production, distribution and use of chemicals and other pollutants.
More recently, the EPA expanded their scope to include the regulation of carbon emission from power plants, automobiles, small engines and other sources of air pollution. They set the standards on pollution in the U.S.
Therefore, equipment manufacturer