Inventory of Florida Airports’ Sustainability Initiatives

In general terms, sustainability is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."^[1] The Florida Airports Council has adopted the definition of airport sustainability developed by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). Airport Sustainability is "a holistic approach to managing an airport so as to ensure the integrity of the Economic viability, Operational efficiency, Natural resource conservation, and Social responsibility (EONS) of the airport."^[2]

This Inventory of Florida Airports' Sustainability Initiatives identifies airports that have proactively enacted some sustainability planning and/or implementation of sustainability initiatives. This inventory is a sampling that has been gathered in a relatively short period of time by the FAC Sustainability Task Force ^[3] and does not represent all of the initiatives undertaken at Florida airports. This inventory will be updated as additional information is provided by the Florida airport community.

A complete Inventory of Airport Sustainability Information is available to FAC members and includes information and guidance about this emerging topic, identifies State of Florida and county/local sustainability or “green” programs, summarizes Florida airports sustainability programs or initiatives, and notes other U.S. and foreign airport programs and initiatives.

FAC Sustainability Task Force Survey
The FAC Sustainability Task Force distributed a survey to all FAC-member airports in March 2010 requesting information on sustainability policies, initiatives, energy/waste reduction goals, beneficial information, and local “green” or sustainability initiatives/policies. Twelve surveys forms were completed and returned from operators responsible for 27 airports in Florida.

The findings of the survey identified airport operators with:

• Sustainability or “green” policies -
  
  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority (in development)
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department
  • Naples Airport Authority


• Sustainable planning/design/construction guidelines or sustainability plans -
  • City of Kissimmee (planning and design guidelines)
  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (in development)
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department (construction guidelines)
  • Naples Airport Authority
    
    Sustainability, Conservation and Social Responsibility Plan
    This document identifies opportunities for saving energy, stewardship of natural resources, and goes beyond environmental compliance. It also reflects the sustainability measures and conservation of resources already accomplished.
    http://www.flynaples.com/images/docs/general/sustplan8%2012.pdf


• Airport and/or airline waste recycling programs -
  • Greater Orlando Airport Authority
  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority
  • Lee County Port Authority
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department
  • Naples Airport Authority
  • Palm Beach County Airports Department
  • Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority
  • Martin County-Witham Field


• A local procurement process -
  • City of Kissimmee
  • Greater Orlando Airport Authority
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department
  • Naples Airport Authority


• Alternative energy production -
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority (solar)
  • Lee County Port Authority (solar)
  • Palm Beach County Airports Department (solar; in development)
  • Martin County-Witham Field (solar lighting in parking areas/security gates; in development)
    
    
• LED lighting (roadways or airfield) -
  • City of Fernandina Beach
  • City of Kissimmee
  • Greater Orlando Airport Authority
  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority
  • Lee County Port Authority
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department
  • Palm Beach County Airports Department
  • Martin County-Witham Field
    
    
• Other sustainability initiatives -
  • Greater Orlando Airport Authority
    
  o Use of biofuels; hybrid/electric vehicles; daylighting/motion-control lighting; HVAC controls; waterless urinals; cooking grease recycling
  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
  o Reclaimed water for irrigation; low-flow toilets/urinals; hybrid/electric vehicles
  
  • Jacksonville Aviation Authority
    o Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory
  • Lee County Port Authority
  o 2009 Outstanding Mitigation Landscape Award, Florida Native Plants Society
  o HVAC load monitoring; parking lot bus fleet management for fuel consumption reduction
  
  • Miami-Dade Airport Department
  o Various energy and water conservation projects
  o Cardboard recycling – MDAD has targeted a goal of recycling 300 tons of cardboard during FY09-10. To reach its organizational goal, MDAD distributed an electronic pledge card (distributed through e-mail) to all department employees to commit to cardboard recycling. As of April 2010, MDAD had recycled 203 tons of cardboard.
  
  • Naples Airport Authority
  o Stormwater quality/quantity management; airfield pavement recycling; passive recreation trails; high-efficiency HVAC systems
  
  • Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority
  o Energy efficient chiller

• Comprehensive energy audit
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accounting
• Installation of 21 variable-speed drives to air handlers to increase energy efficiency
• Installation of variable-speed drive on cooling tower to increase energy efficiency
• Recycling of fluorescent lights and ballasts to reduce electricity consumption
• Future refurbishment of and upgrading of cooling tower to increase energy and water efficiency
• Installation of electronic ballasts to increase energy efficiency
• Installation of MicroLite lighting control system to increase efficiency
• Use of energy management software to control indoor temperature in the Airport passenger terminal building to reduce energy use
• Use of recycled asphalt for construction of perimeter service road

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport – Environmental Resources
Environmental initiatives implemented at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and references used by the airport are provided.
http://www.broward.org/Airport/Community/Pages/Environment.aspx

Northeast Florida Regional Airport at St. Augustine (NFRA) - Sustainability Management Plan (in development)
NFRA is conducting the first stand-alone sustainability plan in the nation to be funded by FAA. The plan includes a detailed baseline inventory, development of sustainability goals and objectives, sustainability performance targets, and the development of a performance tracking system for on-going evaluation. The plan will be completed in early 2011.
http://www.staugustineairport.com/airport.aspx?sec=3&id=B6EDA4B2-DA8E-4754-98FF-FF50DFE4316E

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
The new Panama City airport constructed the first LEED-certified passenger terminal building in the nation, with a state-of-the art storm water management system, extensive use of sustainable materials and a landscaping plan that will not require supplemental irrigation.
http://www.iflybeaches.com/atbeaches/eco