Phoenix Sky Harbor’s commitment to sustainability is officially recognised

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has taken its sustainability efforts one step further and achieved Level 3 Accreditation in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program.

“Attaining Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program is a remarkable achievement,” said Director of Aviation Services, James E. Bennett. “Our commitment to sustainability is strong with numerous initiatives underway, all while we continue to deliver a world-class service to our customers.”

The Airport Carbon Accreditation Program is a voluntary initiative for airports that want to demonstrate their commitment to reducing climate change. It serves as an international carbon management certification standard for airports and requires participating airports to create a carbon footprint of emissions so that they can see where the greatest reductions can be made and monitor progress.

More than 90 per cent of Phoenix Sky Harbor’s carbon footprint is from the purchase of electricity. Phoenix Sky Harbor has had solar panels at its Rental Car Center and East Economy Parking areas since 2012, but recently installed a third solar system at the City of Phoenix Aviation Department’s Corporate Office Building. Additionally, the airport enacted energy reduction measures, such as using LED lighting, resulting in a 17 per cent reduction in energy used.

Other sustainability initiatives include:

• Upgrading HVAC cooling systems with more energy-efficient technology
• Decreasing energy used in buildings and on the airfield: Since 2009, the goal of a 20 per cent reduction is almost achieved
• The airport’s 40 per cent waste diversion goal has been achieved
• Transitioning to 100 per cent xeriscape, which resulted in the savings of more than five million gallons of water each year
• Installing a new Terminal 4 Cooling Tower Soft Water Pre-Treatment system, which will prolong the life of the equipment and save more than 22 million gallons of water annually
• Creating a Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) silver building featuring new, energy, efficient equipment as part of the Terminal 3 Modernization Program.