Philadelphia International Airport turns green with Earth Day

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) celebrated the 41st anniversary of Earth Day by promoting environmental awareness through information tables staffed by representatives of various organizations and by presenting Earth Day awards to individuals for their efforts in bettering the natural and physical surroundings.

Pictured from left: Terry Johnson, Airport Recycling Coordinator; Craig Hinton, Airport Design & Construction Projects Manager; Lynn Keeley, AECOM; Calvin M. Davenger, Jr. Deputy Director of Aviation, Planning & Environmental Stewardship; Virgilio Suero, Operations Supervisor, United Airlines; Michael Sveen, General Manager, Aircraft Service International Group; Bryan Buck, Area General Manager, Aircraft Service International Group.

The Airport’s Earth Day festivities are designed to encourage individuals to be more mindful of the environment by controlling greenhouse gas emissions through “The 3 Rs” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; energy conservation, transportation alternatives, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices. This year’s Earth Day at PHL was celebrated on April 21st and featured informational displays on a variety of environmental initiatives on behalf of the Airport, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia Park & Recreation – Urban Forrestry & Ecosystem Management, RecycleBank, US Airways, Philadelphia Marketplace, and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. Individuals representing the participating groups handed out literature, answered questions, and discussed their sustainability efforts.

Calvin Davenger, Deputy Director of Aviation, Planning and Environmental Stewardship, presented Earth Day awards to Craig Hinton, Design & Construction Project Manager in the Airport’s Engineering Department, and Lynn Keeley of AECOM. Hinton, a longtime PHL employee, was recognized for practicing a sustainable lifestyle that includes bicycling to work everyday and commitment to environmentally conscious behaviors. Keeley was lauded for her key role on the Airport’s Environmental Impact Statement team.

In addition to the Earth Day Award recipients, three individuals were recognized for being environmentally conscious in their professional duties: Bryan Buck, Area General Manager, Aircraft Service International Group; Michael Sveen, General Manager, Aircraft Service International Group; and Virgilio Suero, Operations Supervisor, United Airlines.

“Earth Day is a great opportunity to get the word out about ways to care for the environment in every day life,” said Airport CEO Mark Gale. “It’s also the perfect time for us to highlight some of the many environmental initiatives we have at PHL.”

Some of the Airport’s many environmental initiatives include:

• The installation of Electric Ground Support Equipment and charging stations on the airfield, a project for which the Airport will be receiving the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
• The placement of storm water retention areas and bio-swales, LED light fixtures, recycling containers and solar powered trash compactors in the Cell Phone Waiting Lot
• The implementation of energy conservation measures throughout the terminal complex
• Partnering with Adopt-A-Watt, Inc. to provide Sponsorable Photo-Volatic Displays, which are energy-efficient solar electric system arrays mounted and attached standard electrical service panels and include an acknowledgement sign bearing the name of a sponsor
• The installation of bicycle racks at various locations on-Airport in order to encourage biking to the Airport to reduce emissions
• Partnering with several community watershed groups to convert a mowed-grass area into a naturalized demonstration/educational meadow on the grounds of Northeast Philadelphia Airport