Airports implement “green projects” and renewable energy
An article last month in USA Today highlighted a variety of energy conservation measures and water conservation measures at airports, including an array of 20 miniature, 6-foot-tall wind turbines at Boston Logan International Airport. Once finished the complete array of wind turbines is expected to produce about 100,000 kilowatt-hours annually, equal to the electricity usage of about 17 average-sized homes. The airport may buy additional turbines depending on how well the first 20 turbines perform.
State renewable energy programs helped pay for the turbines at Boston Logan, where airport officials expect to see annual savings of $12,000 to $15,000, producing a 10 year payback. Boston Logan also replaced its fleet of diesel shuttle buses with natural gas vehicles, and designed the 2-year-old $500 million Terminal A to meet the highest national standards for energy efficiency.
Other green projects are popping up at airports around the country in response to rising fuel prices this year. The eco-friendly ideas and projects are expected to improve energy-efficiency and water-efficiency as well as public perception of the airports.
GREEN PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE AIRPORTS THAT ARE ADOPTING THEM (USA Today)
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| Project | Airports | |
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| Alternative energy production: Solar, wind, geothermal | San Jose, Boston, Fresno, Denver, San Francisco, New York JFK, Portland (Oregon), Chicago O’Hare, Oakland | |
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| Ground power systemsat gates: Electrical connections, piped-in preconditioned air, underground jet fueling | Denver, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Boston, San Jose, New York JFK, Stewart International (New Windsor, N.Y.), Detroit, Portland (Oregon) | |
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| Alternative fuel shuttles and taxis: CNG, hybrid, biodiesel | San Jose, Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Nashville, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Portland (Oregon), Denver, San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway | |
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| Water conservation: Low-flow toilets, drip irrigation | San Jose, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Portland (Oregon), Dallas/Fort Worth | |
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| In-house recycling: Food, trash, newspaper, de-icing fluids, building materials | San Jose, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Nashville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Detroit, Miami, Indianapolis, Portland (Oregon), Kansas City | |
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| Light-color roof: For sunlight reflection | Boston, Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare | |
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| Lighting: Automated dimmer switch, more efficient fixtures, solar lighting, LED runway lights | Albuquerque, Boston, Stewart International (New Windsor, N.Y.), San Jose, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, Detroit, Miami, Indianapolis, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth | |
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| Landscaping: Native plants, less grass lawn, goats and sheep for weed control, recycled mulch | San Jose, Seattle, Boston, Nashville, Phoenix, Indianapolis | |
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| Source: USA TODAY research | ||
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