Airport Experience® News - Customer Service Issue 2024

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natural gas (RNG) to electricity. “We know that supplies of RNG are limited, and that low-carbon electricity is the future,” Stanton says. “And we’re mindful that our entire region is making this same conversion, so we’re prioritizing energy efficiency, supporting the development of new renewable energy sources throughout the region, and looking at new ways to store energy for the future.” Carpenter notes that AUS has many sustainability-focused projects on the horizon as it undertakes the Journey With AUS airport expansion and development program. “All of our new construction projects for the upcoming expansion – Concourse B, the arrivals/departures hall and central utility plant – will pursue ratings using the local Austin Energy Green Building program,” he says. “And we’re also helping the city of Austin pilot various sustainable initiatives for future green building ordinance updates.” ATL, meanwhile, is in the process of developing a 2035 sustainable management plan. “To meet these ambitious goals and in support of this forthcoming plan, the airport is prioritizing renewable energy initiatives, water conservation, facility energy reduction, building electrification and installing electric vehicle charging equipment, as well as infrastructure for future-charging equipment,” Warren notes. DEN is keeping its eyes on the prize to reach its ambitious sustainability goals for the near future. “We recognize that sustainable design and construction is only going to become more critical as DEN continues to expand,” Morrissey says. “We’ll need to drive ever-increasing levels of sustainability to achieve the city and county of Denver’s 2040 net zero emissions goal. To meet that challenge, we’re actively working on pathways toward net zero designs for the next phase of expansion projects, to continue to drive down the marginal emissions of new construction and demonstrate the community benefits of sustainability through our high-profile projects.”

Above: San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport has been a leader is green construction, including a LEED Silver-certified terminal. One of its many sustainability efforts is the installation of solar arrays throughout the airport campus.

Good For Earth, Good For Business Warren notes that green buildings using less energy and water compared to other baseline buildings of course supports the airport’s goal of 100-percent clean energy by 2035, and it also supports the airport’s bottom line. “These reductions in usage contribute to significant financial savings for the airport’s operational programming for the life of each building,” she says. “In addition, expansion, construction and renovation projects that contribute to the environmental and sustainability goals of the airport are eligible to be financed or refinanced through Green Bonds designation under the city of Atlanta Department of Aviation Green Bond Framework, making these types of bonds favorable in the investment market and can demonstrate a pricing benefit to the city.” Per its energy performance contract, DEN is continuing to implement energy and water efficiency projects within its existing facility, which is projecting to save the airport $4 million annually in utility costs, Morrissey says. “Additionally, we are confident that our sustainability investments are driving significant life cycle cost savings, in addition to making our facilities brighter, safer and healthier places to visit.” Indeed, as OAK’s Skantz notes, green buildings tend to be spaces that people want to visit. “Whether it’s a passenger terminal or office space, sustainably designed facilities have features that are inviting and make people feel welcome,” she says. “The bright spaces spread positivity and make travelers feel valued.”

Skantz adds that the Port of Oakland has developed a carbon management plan it is now working to implement, and later this year the airport will be kicking off a terminal energy and decarbonization audit to study short-term opportunities to upgrade terminals to incorporate carbon reduction goals. “Further on OAK’s horizon is the proposed Terminal Modernization and Development Project for existing Terminals 1 and 2 and to construct a new terminal to address facility safety, efficiency and modernization needs,” she says, noting that the project has many sustainable design elements. New Opportunities Frequent construction and expansion projects are the reality of any large, growing airport, and thanks to guiding principles from the USGBC and other organizations, it’s more feasible than ever to make these projects better for the environment, making it clear that green buildings are the future. Jade Liska, deputy director of the planning and engineering division for the City of Kansas City, Missouri Aviation Department , says that MCI is looking forward to continuing the momentum to develop more LEED Gold facilities on its campus. “One new opportunity from the city manager’s office is a solar array project at MCI on the northwest corner of airport property,” he adds. “Working with our local partners, the project is in planning stages.” SEA is currently analyzing how to change its central mechanical plant from running on natural gas and renewable

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AX NEWS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024