School buses in Washington DC will be reducing air pollution by using catalytic converters.

A grant worth $224,540 from the Environmental Protection Agency will pay for the 22 buses to be fitted with Catalysed Continuously Regenerating Technology as the city seeks to cut emissions.

It is hoped that the technology could curb target emissions by 85 to 90 per cent.

The buses provide transportation for up to 4,000 special needs students with about 630 bus routes being travelled every day.

The vehicles will get the new converters because they are the largest vehicles in the fleet and it is believed that they will have the biggest impact on emissions.

"We couldn't be more pleased about the opportunity to work with DOT to reduce school bus emissions. This partnership is positive for so many reasons, especially reducing the air pollution levels that affect our children," said District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Director George Hawkins.

Sources:

District Gets EPA Grant to Retrofit 22 DC School Buses to Lower Emissions, 20/02/08
http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,11,q,497584,ddoeNav_GID,1458.asp

Belch-Free School Buses, 28/02/08
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022701420.html

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