Airports Going Green!

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on February 17th, 2009 filed in airports, aviation

On 12 February 2009 Greg Principato, President of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), announced some very ambitious environmental goals for airports. This announcement was made during a speech to the National Aeronautic Association, regarding goals that were voted for adoption at the ACI-NA board meeting earlier in the month.

Principato hopes that, “by working with their communities, regulators, Congress and industry partners, airports can move toward a cleaner, quieter aviation industry.”

Following are the goals adopted by ACI-NA on behalf of airports in North America:

General Environmental Goals

1. Environmental policies: Every ACI-NA member airport will strive to have an environmental policy statement by 2010.
2. Environmental management systems: Every ACI-NA member airport will strive to have an environmental management system in place by:
   • 2014 at large airports.
   • 2016 at medium airports.
   • 2019 at small airports.

Air Quality, Climate and Energy Goals

1. Low-emission airport vehicles and ground support equipment (GSE): ACI-NA member airports will strive to convert airport-owned and operated ground vehicles and GSE to low emission vehicles with an industry-wide average goal of 50 percent of vehicle conversion by 2019.
2. Low-emission access vehicles: By 2010, every ACI-NA member airports will strive to implement an incentive program to encourage taxi, shuttle, limo and rental car companies to use low-emission vehicles.
3. Low-emission vehicle infrastructure: Half of ACI-NA member airports will strive to provide low emission vehicle support infrastructure by 2019.
4. Energy conservation: By 2014, every ACI-NA member airport will strive to implement an energy conservation program that includes adoption of an airport-specific goal to reduce nonrenewable energy consumption.
5. Loading bridges equipped with -re-conditioned air and power: Every ACI-NA member airports will strive to have at least 25 percent of their loading bridges equipped with pre-conditioned air and 400 Hz electrification by 2019.
6. Reduced fee and/or parking incentives for low-emission passenger vehicles: Half of ACI-NA member airports will strive to provide incentives and/or reduced fee parking for low-emission passenger vehicles by 2011.
7. Greenhouse gas emissions inventories: Half of ACI-NA member airports will strive to conduct greenhouse gas emissions inventories by 2015.

Noise Goals

1. Noise and land use compatibility policies: Every ACI-NA member airport will strive to develop a noise and land use compatibility policy by 2019.

Waste Management Goals

1. Recycling programs: Every ACI-NA member airport will strive to have a basic recycling program in place by 2011. Half of airports will have more extensive recycling programs by 2014.

Water Quality Goals

1. Water conservation: By 2014, every ACI-NA member airport will strive to implement a water conservation program that includes adoption of an airport-specific goal to reduce water consumption.
2. Spill reduction training: ACI-NA member airports will facilitate awareness and training with a goal of reducing spills by 25 percent from 2005 levels by 2015. ACI-NA airports will strive to have no releases of petroleum-based spills.

Once again, here’s to the aviation industry for making moves toward sustainability – and understanding that the focus is not (and should not be) only on aircraft and the airside of the industry, but that aviation and airports are systems, and must be regarded as such.  Anything done at an airport – whether on the landside (passengers / customers) or the airside (aircraft / employees) – will make aviation’s overall impact and footprint smaller.

And that is to be commended and encouraged.  Keep it up!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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What do you think about these initiatives and goals? You’re cleared for takeoff in the comments… let ‘er rip!

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