The European Rental Association has launched the ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator, an independent and free-to-use online tool to enable equipment stakeholders to make more sustainable choices when using construction equipment.

The calculator determines the carbon footprint of powered equipment over its entire lifecycle and is applicable to all types of equipment, from mini-excavators and wheel loaders to generators, boom lifts and access platforms.

The results provide an estimate of the carbon footprint per hour of use; for example, allowing equipment users to compare different use scenarios, investigate which part of the lifecycle contributes most to the carbon footprint and evaluate the effects of alternative fuel choices.

The calculator can be used to evaluate a single ownership period of one piece of equipment and, furthermore, to determine the climate impact of entire fleets of equipment or the total carbon footprint of all machines on a given construction site.

Michel Petitjean, ERA secretary general, sees the calculator as the first of its kind and says it is a much-needed tool to help bring down emissions in the construction sector.

"By enabling equipment users to see the carbon footprint of their machinery for every hour of use, they can make the most environmentally sustainable choices when deciding whether to rent, lease or purchase equipment, evaluate areas for improvement and, ultimately, reduce their carbon footprint."

The calculator is easy to use, with a simple registration process for users to save their calculations for later use. Alternatively, users can do single calculations without the need to register.

The solution, which will complement the ERA TCO Calculator, is primarily targeted at contractors, rental companies, distributors, OEMs, public authorities and other equipment users.