Traveling: Airports
Major gateway airports are implementing long-term strategies to help travelers embark on more sustainable journeys.
Major EV infrastructure investments are enabling travelers to charge up while at the airport. Passengers are boarding shuttle buses powered by renewable fuels – and soon those fleets will be electrified. Airport buildings are more energy efficient than ever, with many powered by on-site renewable energy. And airports are hard at work diverting waste from landfills and implementing organic waste collection programs.
Denver International Airport
REDUCE
- Four onsite photovoltaic solar arrays with a combined capacity of 10 megawatts, offsetting up to 11,465 metric tons of GHG each year.
Los Angeles World Airports
REDUCE
PROTECT
- Created the “Boldly Moving Toward Zero” Sustainability Action plan, which includes goals to transition to zero potable water for non-potable demands, use 100-percent renewable energy and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
- Equipping parking structures with EV chargers, with the goal of 1,200 charging stations in our parking garages. In 2021, over 60% of LAX’s vehicle fleet was alternative fuel vehicles and 40% of LAWA’s sedan fleet was fully electric.
- Restoring dunes at LAX and managing invasive plants for the El Segundo Blue Butterfly habitat restoration project.
Pittsburgh International Airport
REDUCE
CONSERVE
- Pittsburgh International Airport’s apiary program creates a sanctuary for millions of honeybees, which have been threatened by exposure to pesticides, parasites and poor nutrition.
- Spearheaded the use of alternative energy sources as the first airport in the world to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy.
San Diego International Airport
INFORM
REDUCE
CONSERVE
PROTECT
- The Good Traveler was founded in 2015 by San Diego International Airport to offer travelers a quick and easy way to make their air travel more sustainable. Today, The Good Traveler is used by over 20 of the busiest and most climate-smart airports in the world and has helped airports and travelers reduce over 117,000 metric tons of carbon.
- SAN is “carbon neutral” in terms of organizational emissions and currently has 5.5 MW of PV solar and 2MW/4MWh of battery storage installed onsite. SAN also receives 100% renewable and carbon-free grid-delivered electricity and has a fleet of 33 electric buses that transport passengers and employees. The airport also uses renewable diesel for all airside diesel ground support equipment (GSE).
- SAN’s Food Recovery Program collected nearly 300 meals from the airport’s food and beverage concessionaires for donation and composted approximately 248 tons of food waste. More than 800,000 gallons of stormwater were captured, treated, and reused to maintain temperature control in the terminals. Approximately 100,000 gallons of condensate water dripping from jet bridges were captured and used to brew beer.
- SAN is proud to provide a protected habitat for the endangered California least tern (CLT), a migrating seabird that finds nesting opportunities along the southeastern property line of the airport. The airport provides the CLT with nesting habitat and easy access to foraging opportunities in nearby San Diego Bay. CLT nesting season at SAN is April to September.
San Francisco International Airport
REDUCE
CONSERVE
SOURCE
- Targeting net zero carbon emissions for airport-controlled greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. SFO currently has 13 solar installations online, 10 all-electric buildings, and 3 all-electric parking garages.
- Is an airport leader in zero waste and the first large campus to ban plastics in foodware, foodware accessories and beverage containers. The Airport, and its tenant partners, also donates approximately 12,000 meals to our communities facing food insecurity annually, diverting over 15,000 pounds of surplus food from the landfill through the Unites Against Hunger Program.
- SFO’s Green Business Program offers free support to airport restaurants, stores, and other vendors for energy and water conservation; waste reduction; pollution prevention and cost reduction. Over 40 SFO tenants are certified Green Businesses and over 900 tenant employees are trained in material diversion.
The Port of Portland and Portland International Airport
REDUCE
CONSERVE
- Supports solar development through the state-wide Community Solar Program. Starting in 2023, the port will purchase solar power for approximately 15% of the electricity used at PDX.
- Participates in The Clean Air Construction Program, a collaboration among local public agencies to reduce diesel emissions in construction projects
- Has donated more than 155,000 meals and composted 2,350 tons of food waste from PDX since 2003.
- Building a ground source heat pump system that will reduce the use of natural gas for heating the PDX terminal by 95%
