North American airports go to new heights: Going green

Airports across North America
are embracing the green movement
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

Airports across North America are jumping on the green bandwagon and making some drastic operational changes. Over the past year, more than five airports have moved in a more eco-conscious direction.

The two areas airports are focusing on are:

• Incorporating solar power in their existing infrastructure  

• Aiming for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) Certification

LEED Certification

LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is a resource companies can use to ensure they are complying with green practices in the areas of building design, operations, construction and maintenance.

In the past year, at least three airports have been LEED certified.  

The Winnepeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in Manitoba is Canada’s first LEED certified airport and features natural lighting and mechanical systems that help to reduce consumption.  The airport is 25 percent more efficient than Canada’s building code requires.

The Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal in Atlanta received a LEED Silver certification and its green features include water and energy conservation, as well as good indoor air quality. The airport has also used low VOC materials for the buildings, which include paints, sealants and recycled wood products. 

The San Francisco International Airport has redone Terminal 2 and garnered a LEED Gold certification for its efforts. The terminal’s eco-conscious features include recycling some of the original infrastructure of the space, while saving on water and energy consumption and reducing overall waste.

Solar Power

Though several airports have made strides to install solar panels on their buildings, there are two airports of particular note that are creating solutions that are both cost effective and eco-friendly.

The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recently revealed plans to refit the rooftops on the car rental center and two other garages with 5.4-MW of solar power. The expectation is that 51 percent of the energy utilized by those buildings will be solar powered, resulting in $ 4.7 million in savings over the next 20 years.

The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority in Tennessee has already implemented one element of its plans by setting up a 1-MW array close to the airport which has already reaped benefits. In just two months, that array helped save over 62 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. The airport hopes to build a solar farm that will, when completed, consist of 3-MW of solar power, an ambitious project for a smaller airport.

Have you been to any of these airports? Let us know what you thought!

Source: Earth Techling

Taking green one step further

Electrocorp's I-6500 series
are designed for use with
HVAC systems

The trend toward greener airports is encouraging and environmental consultants have undoubtedly been involved in helping to realize these various plans.

As with any construction or refurbishment project, materials are not the only concern for ensuring good indoor air quality. An air cleaning system which operates continuously is a necessity when expecting good indoor air quality on a long-term basis.

Installing air cleaners within HVAC systems in airports will help clean the air of particle and chemical pollutants through the use of HEPA and activated carbon filters.  As a result, in addition to an eco-conscious ethos, airport authorities can ensure healthy air quality for both employees and travelers.

For more information on Electrocorp’s air cleaners, call one of our IAQ experts at 1-866-667-0297 or contact us through our website.

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