Airport Sustainability PlanningCharlie McDermott, LEED APPlanning Department Manager

C&S Companies

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

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

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”

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

Sustainable Master Plans vs.Sustainability Management Plans

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

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

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

Sustainable master planning—what does it mean?

• Integration of sustainability throughout the planning process• Mindset shift• Holistic approach to

planning

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

ALP drawing set includes:• All traditional elements• ALP checklist

• Planned sustainability initiatives

• CIP phasing plan includes• Facility needs• Sustainability

initiatives

Sustainability decision tree

Report card• What should you

measure?• Gathering data • Updating the report

card• Taking action based on

report card results

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

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

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

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

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

Report card• What should you

measure?• Gathering data • Updating the report

card• Taking action based on

report card results

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.

Thank you!

• Questions?