Airport Sustainability Planning
Charlie McDermott, LEED AP
Planning Department Manager
C&S Companies
Transportation Research Board
Airport 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
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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
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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 Plan
Integration 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 Study
Ithaca 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
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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
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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?