Develop or adopt sustainability guidelines and metrics.
The use of airport-specific sustainability guidelines and metrics will assist an airport operator in tracking, measuring, and reducing water and energy use, waste, reliance on non-renewable materials, and air and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions related to airport administration, planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance. An airport operator may develop and mandate the use of sustainability guidelines that include performance standards that consistently encourage or require more techniques that reduce GHG emissions, water and energy use, waste, etc. for various types of projects (e.g., capital, tenant, horizontal, vertical, etc.). An airport operator may consider the following when developing guidelines and metrics: • Develop a vision statement to focus the guidelines and metrics; • Develop airport-specific goals to be achieved through the guidelines and metrics; • Approval, encouragement and consensus from upper management and other stakeholders at the airport (e.g., operations and maintenance department, planning department, airside and landside operations, etc.), which is crucial to the success of the guidelines and metrics; • Consideration of the scope of the guidelines, which includes the types of projects the guidelines would apply to (i.e., horizontal or vertical development) and what specific sustainability measures would be the focus of the guidelines (e.g., energy management, waste management, planning and design phases, construction phase, etc. or all of the above); and • A process to implement the guidelines and metrics. Once the intent of the guidelines and metrics is determined, an airport operator may begin the development of specific performance standards. Resources airport operators may consult include the Sustainable Aviation Resource Guide and database from the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance (SAGA), which is a coalition of aviation stakeholders that formed to assist airport operators in planning, implementing, and maintaining a sustainability program (www.airportsustainability.org). The guide and database include airport-specific performance standards that can be tailored to the unique requirements of individual airports of all sizes, climates, and regions in the United States. Other resources that may be used include existing airport guidelines, such as: the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Sustainable Airport Planning, Design and Construction Guidelines; the Chicago Department of Aviation's Sustainable Airport Manual; and Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Sustainable Design Standards and Guidelines. Airport-specific performance standards may include horizontal design and construction standards and airside-specific standards. The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC®) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design New Construction & Major Renovation (LEED-NC®) and Existing Buildings (LEED-EB®) green building rating systems are good resources in the development of vertical projects. The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s (ISI) EnvisionTM Rating System provides a holistic framework for evaluating and rating the community, environmental, and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects. Capital costs may vary widely depending on what resources are used in the development of the guidelines and metrics. There are many existing documents for airport operators to use as references in the development of their own guidelines and metrics. The payback period would depend on the method an airport operator used in the development of the guidelines and metrics. The direct payback from the implementation of the guidelines may be minimal. Cost savings are reflected in the implementation of the performance standards (e.g., energy savings, water conservation, etc.) and creating sustainable projects. Once the airport operator integrates the guidelines and metrics into existing programs and processes, the annual operations and maintenance costs may be minimal.
Practice Information
| Capital Cost: | Low Cost ($5,000 – $100,000 US) |
| O&M Cost: | High (>$100,000 US) |
| Payback Period: | Immediate (0 – 2 years) |
| Staffing Requirements: | Moderate (50 – 200 hours per month) |
| Reportability of Metrics: | Qualitative metric |
| Maturity of Practice: | Proven at multiple airports |
| Energy Reduction: | Decreases energy consumption |
| Environmental Benefits: | Significant, multiple environmental benefits |
| Social Benefits: | Low social benefit |
Airport Characteristics
Categories
Case Studies
April, 2009
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), In April 2009, LAWA developed its forth version of sustainability guidelines: Sustainable Planning, Design and Construction Guidelines for Implementation on All Airport Projects. This guidebook facilitates “the integration of sustainable concepts and practices into capital, non-capital, and tenant projects that are undertaken at each of” the four LAWA airports. The guidelines “provide a foundation for sustainable practices, enhance awareness, drive innovation, and create flexibility for users to think outside of the box in regards to improving the inclusion of sustainable practice into its projects.”
August, 2007
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), New York, New York
PANYNJ Engineering Department developed the Sustainable Design Project Manual in August 2007 to provide a guide for the new policy that was adopted in 2006. The new policy reads: “to reduce adverse environmental impacts of the design, construction, operation and maintenance and occupancy or leasing of new or substantially renovated buildings and facilities, reconstruction projects, and programs.” In 2011, PANYNJ developed sustainable guidelines specific to infrastructure projects. These Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines aim to optimize infrastructure project design through sustainable engineering practice, with goals of cost savings and extending the project lifecycle. The guidelines are used for projects outside of the building envelope.
Related Links
Chicago Department of Aviation, “Sustainable Airport Manual,” Version 3.0
City of Chicago, O’Hare Modernization Program, “Sustainable Design Manual”
Philadelphia International Airport, “Environmental Stewardship Plan”
Columbus Regional Airport Authority, “Capital Program Sustainable Design Guidance Manual”
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, “Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines”
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Engineering Department, “Sustainable Design Project Manual”
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