The aviation sector is facing increasing pressure to wash up its act on climate change, but gas-guzzling planes aren’t the one culprits.
As airports grow, so does their carbon footprint, as more energy is required to power recent terminals, ground transportation vehicles and infrastructure.
That’s why many airports around the globe have introduced greener elements into their designs and operational strategies, and launched into environmentally friendly initiatives.
The Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, run by the Airports Council International (ACI), helps greater than 200 airports manage their emissions with the final word goal of carbon neutrality.
According to the web site Airport Technology, we present the world’s most environmentally friendly airports to this point and the way they discover which elements of their design help them offset their carbon emissions.
Boston Logan International Airport – UNITED STATES
Boston Logan International was the primary airport terminal on this planet to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation, which has since change into the industry’s defining signal of quality. Terminal A features roofing and pavements designed to reflect heat away from the constructing, in addition to low-flow bathroom fixtures to save lots of water.
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) invested $6.3 million to renovate one among the airport’s runways using environmentally friendly asphalt that could possibly be heated at a much lower temperature during construction. Massport claimed that it would cut back greenhouse gas emissions by 2,000 tonnes over the course of the project.
A fleet of 6-foot-tall wind turbines are installed atop the airport’s offices, producing about 3% of the energy needed for its operations.
Galapagos Eco-Airport – GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
The potentially harmful impacts of tourism are an ongoing concern for the Galapagos Islands, making it an acceptable location for the world’s first completely “green” airport. Built in 2012, the Galapagos Ecological Airport was designed to be entirely powered by solar and wind energy, with 65% of the entire energy provided by windmills and 35% coming from photovoltaic panels mounted on the sidewalks.
A whopping 80% of Galapagos’ infrastructure was built using recycled materials, including steel pipes taken from oil fields within the Ecaudorian Amazon. The wood and metal structures of its ancestor, Seymour Airport, were reused and the furniture was manufactured from environmentally friendly sources.
In addition, the airport has a desalination plant that captures seawater and purifies it to be used within the terminal. The sewage is then pumped back into the treatment system for passengers to reuse (though, understandably, not for consumption).
Oslo Airport – NORWAY
Scandinavia has built a fame for eco-friendly initiatives, and this trend has spread to its airports. Last 12 months, Norway’s Oslo Airport began a 377,296-foot² expansion of its terminal, and energy efficiency was a key element of the project.
Natural and recycled materials embody the expansion of the Oslo terminal. The extension was built from reused steel and environmentally friendly concrete mixed with volcanic ash, after which covered with wood sourced from Scandinavian forests.
Most intriguingly, snow is collected from Oslo’s runways and stored in an on-site warehouse where it may possibly be used as a coolant in the summertime. This aspect earned the airport an ‘excellent’ sustainability rating under the Building Research Facilities Environmental Assessment Method standard.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport – SWEDEN
Stockholm Arlanda Airport, the primary European airport to change into carbon neutral in 2009, is the one airport on this planet whose environmental authorization includes a discount in carbon emissions. Pollution from every operation, from air operations to vehicular traffic to and from the terminal, must not exceed levels set in 1990, putting additional pressure on the airport to green its operations where possible.
To save electricity, Stockholm uses a singular biofuel system to heat its terminals, hangars and airport buildings. Water is collected by a series of wells connected to an underground aquifer after which directed to the terminal’s air con system in summer and to a biofuel-powered heating system in winter. This method can be used to position cement pads near airport hangars to maintain doors and ramps ice-free.
By implementing low-power LED lighting and numerous other measures, Stockholm was in a position to reduce energy consumption by almost one third between 2005 and 2012.
Singapore Changi Airport – SINGAPORE
Singapore’s Changi Airport is just not only the most effective airports on this planet, but in addition has a practice of caring for the environment.
The two newest terminals have been designed to spotlight the airport’s commitment to green principles, with skylights increasing natural light, air con units placed closer to the ground and many greenery. The recently opened Terminal 4 has a green wall decorated with over 20,000 species of plants which are said to lower the airport’s ambient temperature and improve air quality.
Other features implemented at Changi include energy-saving motion sensors and lighting, water-saving fixtures and roof-mounted solar panels.
Zurich Airport – SWITZERLAND
Since 1991, Zurich Airport has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 30% and goals to scale back emissions further by 2030. Photovoltaic systems are installed on aircraft docks and parking lots, and underground power pylons are used to heat and funky the terminals.
Water use on the airport has also dropped, as domestic wastewater is diverted to an external treatment plant and rain is collected to be used in toilets. Water from de-icing operations can be recycled through a singular natural process that uses specialized microorganisms to interrupt down solid residues within the liquid.
Zurich’s stance on noise emissions was also praised, which charges airlines for aircraft noise based on their category and calculates the extent of noise exposure from flight movements using a highly detailed mapping program.
Denver International Airport – UNITED STATES
Denver International Airport is home to the most important solar energy farm at a industrial airport within the U.S., with 4 airport-based photovoltaic panels generating enough electricity to power 2,500 homes.
The airport’s pioneering environmental management system has resulted in quite a few successes. In 2015, over 2,100 tons of municipal solid waste were sent to landfills. Over 200 tons of organic waste is composted yearly on the airport, and there are many water bottle filling stations throughout the terminals.
Denver’s passenger gates provide aircraft with the flexibility to attach power sources to the grid, allowing them to show off auxiliary power units to enhance air quality and reduce noise pollution.
Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport – INDIA
India’s largest international airport has the eighth largest terminal on this planet. Currently, within the face of the rapid development of the aviation sector, he’s attempting to match the namesake of Indira Gandhi, the Indian prime minister famous for her support of ecological initiatives.
The airport’s 5.4 million-foot Terminal 3 features well-lit departure lounges, 1,200 low-power LCD screens, 300 rainwater collection stations and storm drains to forestall erosion. Additionally, battery-powered vehicles are used to move passengers between terminals and baggage claim.
Indira Gandhi Airport recently won two gongs for its eco-friendliness, including the Wings India Award for ‘Most Sustainable and Green Airport’, and was also recognized by ACI as one of the best airport on this planet, serving over 40 million passengers annually.
Source : Airport technology
