Airport Sustainability Planning

1. Airport Sustainability Planning Charlie McDermott, LEED AP Planning Department Manager C&S Companies

2. Transportation Research BoardAirport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Completed research: • ACRP 08-01: Sustainable Airport Construction Practices • ACRP Synthesis 11-03 Sustainable Facilities and Practices (published as Synthesis 10 Airport Sustainability Practices) Research in progress: • ACRP 02-22: Incorporating Sustainability Into Traditional Airport Projects • ACRP 02-28: Airport Sustainability Practices: Tools for Evaluating, Measuring and Implementing • ACRP 02-30: Enhancing the Airport-Industry SAGA website Upcoming research: • ACRP 09-06: Sustainable Practices for Airport Maintenance and Operations

3. FAA’s Pilot Program • FAA introduced the Sustainable Master Plan Pilot Program in May 2010 • 10 airports were selected for the program • Evaluates ways to make sustainability a core objective • Objective: sustainable master plans and sustainable management plans will include initiatives for reducing environmental impacts and achieving economic benefits while increasing integration with local communities • Program will end in late 2012 • FAA will use lessons learned to develop national program guidance on airport sustainability

4. FAA’s Sustainability Planning Pilot Program According to FAA: “Initiatives like the Sustainable Master Plan Pilot Program are intended to take a more proactive, holistic approach to sustainable planning”

5. Pilot Program Guidance Required elements: • Mission statement • Define sustainability categories, such as: • Socioeconomics • Airport facilities • Environmental resources (i.e., energy, water, air, etc.) • Conduct baseline assessment • Establish measurable goals • Identify specific initiatives

6. Sustainable Master Plans vs.Sustainability Management Plans

7. Stand-Alone Sustainability Management Plans • Develops airport-wide sustainability policy, with detailed goals and objectives • Considers all aspects of airport operations • Incorporates a range of environmental, social, and economic categories • Air quality and climate change • Energy conservation • Water quality and conservation • Solid waste reduction and recycling • Community outreach • Develops measurable performance targets • Reports on progress regularly

8. Sustainable Master PlanIntegration of sustainability throughout the planning process • Not a separate chapter in a master plan • Not a stand-alone management plan • Each planning decision considers sustainability throughout report • Focus on maximizing existing facility’s assets before recommending new construction • Find ways to incorporate sustainability elements into all projects

9. Sustainable Master Plan Case StudyIthaca Tompkins Regional Airport • Ithaca, New York • Finger Lakes region of upstate New York • Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College • Primary, non-hub airport with 110,000 annual enplanements • Single runway configuration—6,601 x 150 feet • Carriers = Delta, Continental, United, & US Airways • Regional jets and turboprop aircraft • Destinations are five large northeast hubs • Previous master plan was 15 years old

10. Sustainable master planning—what does it mean? • Integration of sustainability throughout the planning process • Mindset shift • Holistic approach to planning

11. Document structure • Follows the structure of the master plan AC • Integrates sustainability • Every chapter discusses sustainability • Includes tools to incorporate sustainability into future projects • Sustainability can’t overtake the document—it requires a balance

12. ALP drawing set includes: • All traditional elements • ALP checklist • Planned sustainability initiatives • CIP phasing plan includes • Facility needs • Sustainability initiatives

13. Sustainability decision tree

14. Report card • What should you measure? • Gathering data • Updating the report card • Taking action based on report card results

15. Sustainability Management Plan Case Study:Fresno Yosemite International Airport • One of 10 airports in pilot program • Fresno, California—gateway to Yosemite National Park • Primary, small-hub airport with approximately 570,000 enplanements (2010) • Double runway configuration—9,227 x 150 ft and 7,205 x 100 ft. • Served by eight carriers • Regional jets and turboprop aircraft • 10 non-stop destinations in US and Mexico

16. Major Tasks • Engage stakeholders • Conduct baseline inventory • Develop written vision and mission statement for project and/or airport overall • Define measurable goals and targets • Recommend sustainability initiatives • Implement and track performance

17. Base line categories • Air emissions • Energy • Water conservation • Water quality • Noise • Landscape management • Solid waste and recycling • Indoor environmental quality • Hazardous materials • Surface transportation • Socioeconomic and community outreach • Sustainable site and land use compatibility

18. Example Screening Criteria • Capital costs • Life cycle costs • Return on investment (where applicable) • Ability to meet sustainability goals (e.g., GHG reductions, energy savings, water savings) • Staffing and maintenance requirements • Potential funding mechanisms

19. Sample goals • Energy: reduce electricity consumption by 26% and natural gas consumption by 15% • Water conservation: reduce potable water consumption • Landscape management: increase species diversity • Solid waste: implement a robust recycling program • Outreach: install interactive display to educate travelers about the airport’s goals

20. Report card • What should you measure? • Gathering data • Updating the report card • Taking action based on report card results

21. FAA Updates • FAA to publish lessons learned from all pilot programs in early 2012 • Lessons will aid FAA in the development of new planning guidance • FAA will fund sustainability plans/sustainable master plans in 2012.

22. Thank you! • Questions?