Greening Our Airports

Tens of millions of people will spend a portion of their summer vacation traveling through an airport. Ever notice the overflowing garbage cans everywhere in the terminals? Travelers generate 1.5 pounds of trash per person during each airport visit, and that doesn't include whatever trash is left behind on the plane! An NRDC investigation found that the U.S. airline industry discards enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 Boeing 747 airplanes. In a single year, U.S. airlines also discarded 9,000 tons of plastic and enough newspapers and magazines to fill a football field to a depth of more than 230 feet.

Airports are essentially like small cities, and greening them will make a big impact. This week we salute Boston Logan airport. The new Terminal A, with a heat-reflecting roof and windows, low-flow faucets, waterless urinals, self dimming lights and storm water filtration, is the nation's first terminal to be a certified green building. Congratulations!

And kudos to Dallas Fort Worth Airport which receives 10% of its electricity from wind generators in West Texas. Of the 77 heavy duty trucks and vehicles used at the airport, 62% use alternative fuels. Tailpipe emissions from the airport's car and truck fleet have been reduced by 90%.

Action tips for the week:

Even when they are 'off,' leaving appliances plugged in still uses energy, so remember before you leave home for summer vacation to unplug all electrical appliances and devices to save energy. And be sure to turn off your home air conditioner thermostat and timers too. If you plan to drive to your vacation destination, make sure your car is running efficiently. Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Saving a gallon of gas will keep 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and leave more money in your pocket for those vacation treats!

Comments

[dgscol]

The jet engine, master work that it is, is the least green item at the airport. Anyone care to opt for a more efficient engine? Planes use 20% of all our oil.

[belladawna]

I was recently watching some other documentary on hurricane katrina and was shocked at how trash just piles up everywhere. now this isn't about katrina's trash, but more about the planning that goes into the "disposal" of trash. i agree that a lot of cities do not even have recycle bins on their main streets and it is very scary to say the least.
my biggest problem is that you've got people who pick up after major fairgrounds and parades who can clean a lot better than some local governments. so how is it that these local companies cannot be hired or whatnot to set up recycling removal for cities that there is a huge "back up" of trash? this to me makes no logical sense to even have to ask "can you please put a recycling bin on our local public streets please?" i mean lord if this is a GREEN MOVEMENT that most government officials -it seems- are engaged in, then why is it like the latest news with the EPA going back and forth with a pissing contest about what "they are allowed to say" about certain situations?!? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121478564162114625.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
unbelievable, but i believe it. if i had a t.v. and cable to watch the green network ya need an intervention for. please read url since i had to edit my post to only 250 words to edit the quote from the url. what's up with that.

[AmyAlkon]

Ms. David, which do you think uses more energy, leaving one's electric shaver plugged in or owning a second home in Nantucket, and flying there on a private jet?

But don't just take it from me. Here's Lewis Page in The Register/UK, referencing the work of Professor David J C MacKay of the Cambridge University Department of Physics:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/20/mackay_on_carbon_free_uk/print.html

A BRIEF EXCERPT FROM THE STORY: "MacKay tells The Reg that he was first drawn into this field by the constant suggestion -- from the Beeb, parts of the government etc -- that we can seriously impact our personal energy consumption by doing such things as turning our TVs off standby or unplugging our mobile-phone chargers.

Anyone with even a slight grasp of energy units should know that this is madness. Skipping one bath saves a much energy as leaving your TV off standby for over six months. People who wash regularly, wear clean clothes, consume hot food or drink, use powered transport of any kind and live in warm houses have no need to worry about the energy they use to power their electronics; it's insignificant compared to the other things."

And P.S. I've been using reusable bags for years, and drive a Honda Insight, and started a campaign against unnecessary gigundo SUV driving, etc. I just don't like hypocrites.

How "green" are you really?

[Marlyn]

What happened to Richard Branson's idea of towing planes to their takeoff point, rather than having them wait on the tarmac, spewing jet fuel all the while?

[TheKat]

I just got back from a trip to Dallas/Ft. Worth. The American Airlines terminal didn't seem to have any recycling. A place to drop newspapers and another for cans/bottles would help.

I flew out of Boston's Logan. There are no apparent recycling containers here either.

Kitty Kaufman
www.corp-edge.com

[pundit27]

The three biggest environmental problems engendered by international airports are noise pollution, jet fuel emissions and ground traffic. In San Diego, a citizens group has created a novel solution to all these issues that major coastllne airports everywhere could consider: off-shore airfields with bridge/tunnel connectors to landside terminals. In this case, that means closing Lindbergh to jet traffic but converting it to a 21st Century aeroplex, with terminals, significant harborside development and wetlands restoration. This works particularly well in the San Diego region because the Southern California Bight is very well suited to a deep-water, environmentally positive floating structure, essentially a three-five square mile island. This platform would also serve as a renewable energy and fresh water source for resource-starved southern Caifornia. In short, this is a far more intergrated, ambitious plan than simply drilling for oil, yet the basic technology -- multi-purpose semi-submersible platforms, is the same.

[mlaiuppa]

They also plan to charge you for travel to and from the off shore airport...and there will be a charge for each piece of luggage.

That "Citizens" group is a small group of developers and business people with their own agenda for profit. Acquiring the current (prime real estate) site for 'development' has no part in their plans. NOT.

There is nothing environmentall positive about a 3 x 5 mile floating structure. It's a dead zone.

This "plan" has already been defeated for many reasons. It isn't going to happen. Because San Diegans aren't STUPID. We're not going to build a super-train out to the middle of the desert either.

[Marlyn]

Since I live near Lindbergh Field, I hope to see this happen. Right now it is HELL on Earth around here because of the airport.

[nightwind928]

While addressing the problems of aluminum cans is admirable, the problem at airports isn't in the trash cans. Efficiently moving the traveling public in a safe and hospitible manor are the real problems that seem to go unanswered. Domestic carriers cram passengers into overcrowded planes, arbitrairly overbook flights while the airports routinely treat the flying public like cattle. Open the domestic routes to overseas carriers and let competition make the airlines more receptive to it's customers.

[robin50]

You know, I would bet the farm on it that if travelers didn't have to spend hours or even days in the airport, much less waste would be produced. Becoming more efficient at their only job, getting people on and off planes would be the biggest step that could be done to become greener.

[Marlyn]

We are required to arrive at the airport hours ahead of time for security reasons. Then there is nothing to do for hours until time for the flight. I think this is all just a scam to support the business of the mini malls inside.

[marisyl]

I hope the Green designation doesn't allow those absurdly wasteful electric-eye automatic flush toilets. The water waste from these idiotic devises is appalling! I can never get it to not flush several times, and flushing toilets is a huge water waster. They should be banned, but I understand that they're considered easier to install than the old lever style and thus part of the specs for all new building. What goes here?

[Myshkin57]

Along the same lines, I am continually baffled as to why waterless urinals are not used at every public restroom.

[Marlyn]

"absurdly wasteful electric-eye automatic flush toilets."

Agreed. You put paper down and it flushes it away before you can even sit down.