Innovations in Airfield Sustainability

33rd Annual Airport ConferenceHershey, PAMarch 3, 2010

Panelists

Christopher Decker, PE

•Principal/Senior Engineer

•Roy D. McQueen & Associates, Ltd, VA

Carol Lurie, LEED AP, AICP

•Principal/Senior Environmental Planner

•VHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin. Inc., MA

Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance

Why was SAGA Initiated? • Requests to industry organizations on

how to start a sustainability program• Airports faced with overwhelming

array of sustainability resources• Desire for airport-specific

sustainability guidelines in one place• Call for clarity on best practices

SAGA Participants

• Airports Council International-NA (ACI-NA)• Airport Consultants Council (ACC) • American Assoc. of Airport Executives (AAAE) • Air Transport Association (ATA) • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) • Airports – ORD, BOS, RNO, LAWA, POS• Consultants

SAGA Goal

• Assist airports initiating or conducting sustainability programs by consolidating existing guidelines/practices into a comprehensive, searchable resource that can be tailored to the unique requirements of individual airports• Applicable to airports of all sizes• Encompassing all activities – capital

improvement programs, routine maintenance, and daily operations

www.airportsustainability.org

Sustainable Aviation Resource Guide

SAGA Achievements

• Offers guidance to airports on how to start a sustainability program

• Compiles airport-specific sustainability practices in searchable database (in Excel and Web-based database)

• Suggests examples of ways to adapt practices to airports of all sizes and types

• Provides specific references to airports’ source documents

SAGA Resource Guide

• Section 1 – Defines Airport Sustainability and Benefits

• Section 2 – How to Start, Implement, Sustain and Maintain a Program

• Section 3 – Examples of Sustainability Programs

• Section 4 – Database of Proven Sustainability Measures

Logan Airport Micro Turbines

Sustainability Database

•Comprehensive, searchable listing of existing sustainability practices undertaken by airports

•Organized by broad range of criteria:• Activities Planning Design Construction Operations Maintenance Administration

• Functional Areas Landside Airside Airport-wide

• EONS Economic Viability Operations

Efficiency Natural Resources Social

Responsibility

972 Measures (as of September 2009)

68 Organizational Columns

Sustainability Database/Excel

Sustainability Database/Web

SAGA Next Steps

• Enhance database by developing supporting information for each of the sustainable practices provided in the SAGA database• Brief description of the practice• Associated costs and benefits• Link, references or contacts for

additional information• Update on regular basis

Examples of Airside Innovations

• Capital Projects • Install Hydronic runway pavement to control snow accumulation on

runways• Install heated pavement to control snow accumulation on paved areas• Install geothermal heating and cooling systems• Provide fuel hydrant system access at all future aircraft gates to eliminate

the use of tanker fuel trucks• Construct Deicing facility with bio-treatment system that captures glycol-

impacted storm water• For runways and taxiways (as applicable), use LED lighting and signals for

new systems. • Design future airport layout to reduce aircraft delay • Reduce taxiing distances on landing by installing

high-speed or rapid exit taxiways

Examples of Airside Innovations

• Construction Practices • During airside construction, use reusable polyethylene plastic

barricades with solar power flashlights• Utilize pervious pavement for roadways, shoulders, non-traffic

pavements, maintenance roads, utility yards, airside parking facilities.

• Incorporate temporary sedimentation basins, temporary ditch checks, diversion dikes, temporary ditches, sediment traps, silt fences, and/or pipe slope drains into construction plans.

• Plan the phases or stages of construction to minimize exposure. • Require that at least a portion of the construction vehicle fleet

are clean fuel vehicles and/or incorporate clean air technologies.

Examples of Airside Innovations

• Operations • Establish airside lighting controls and procedures to turn off or

reduce the intensity of airside lighting (runway, taxiway and apron lights and navigational aids) when not being used.

• Utilize fuel cells, especially in remote locations, for powering remote weather stations, cars, trucks, and buses, combined heat and power applications, laptops, cell phones, and other applications.

• Use zero- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesives and sealants; consider using water-based sealants which contain no VOCs and can be used on porous or nonporous surfaces.

• Promote use of the following locally/regionally available materials: concrete, asphalt, structural steel, masonry, post-industrial recycled gypsum wallboard, landscape material and seed.

Examples of Airside Innovations

• Operations • Require taxiing aircraft to use a single engine only• Use propane fuel for the aircraft rescue and fire-fighting

(ARFF) training center simulation burners instead of conventional gasoline

• Use GSE tugs for aircraft pushback from gates. Increase aircraft towing where appropriate.

• Use high-speed aircraft tugs as part of a drive to reduce emissions from aircraft on the ground.

• Airside drivers will have to pass stringent green driving tests which will encourage them to switch off their engines when possible and to drive economically.

Need more Information?

Contact:

Carol Lurie, LEED AP, AICPVHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. clurie@vhb.com