Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was recognized recently as a newly-accredited airport in the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Airport Carbon Accreditation program. Airports attain this accreditation by managing and reducing their carbon footprint. In 2014, Phoenix Sky Harbor set a goal to reduce its carbon footprint 10% by 2020. Between 2014 – 2015, Sky Harbor already decreased its carbon footprint by more than 4%. Decreasing energy consumption and using renewable energy are two major factors in the reduction of an airport’s carbon footprint. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has achieved this in several ways:
· Replacing traditional lighting with LED fixtures, which not only reduce energy consumption but emit much less heat, reducing air cooling demand. LED fixtures have already been installed in Sky Harbor’s East Economy Parking Garages, at Air Cargo facilities, and portions of Terminal 4, and will be used in the newly-modernized Terminal 3.
· Upgrading HVAC cooling systems with new, more energy-efficient technology
· Installing only energy-efficient appliances and fixtures in the newly-modernized Terminal 3 and other areas where older equipment requires replacement.
