PORTLAND — Portland International Jetport, along with three other airports, was recently selected as a winner of a ACI-NA 2012 Environmental Achievement Award.
According to a news release, the other airports earning awards were Northeast Florida Regional Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and JFK International Airport.
Each year ACI-NA awards up to four awards for the categories of environmental management, mitigation, outreach, education and community involvement, and innovative/ special projects. The winners must demonstrate the environmental benefit of their project, innovative approach, effective implementation, applicability and cost effectiveness.
“In addition to driving economic development in their regions, airports take environmental protection and improvement very seriously, and constantly strive to be good neighbors,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “ACI-NA’s annual Environmental Achievement Awards is a great way to celebrate airports’ achievements in environmental management, finding innovative solutions to environmental challenges, and communicating with their local communities, all while providing the vital service of moving people and goods safely and efficiently.”
Winners in each category are selected by a three-judge panel. Judges for the 2012 awards program were Carol Hallett, of counsel to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Anne Kohut, publisher, Aviation Noise Report and Aviation Emissions Report; and Rhonda Solomon, environmental specialist at the Federal Aviation Administration.
Award winners will be recog- nized at the ACI-NA and ACI World’s annual conference in Calgary on Sept. 12 during the Chairman’s Honors Luncheon.
This year ACI-NA received more entrants than any prior year, “which really signifies airports’ continued commitment to being excellent environmental stewards,” Kohut said. In addition to the four winning projects, judges were so impressed with the field of candidates that they awarded an honorable mention in each category, as well as an overall honorable mention.
Jetport’s award
— Environmental Management Award Category:
Portland International Jetport took advantage of a terminal expansion project to install a significant geothermal system to provide the airport’s energy needs. The system takes advantage of ground water to heat and cool the airport facilities instead of relying on conventional fossil fuels, which has resulted in a reduction of more than 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and more than 1 ton of nitrous oxide emissions per year — the equivalent of taking more than 180 cars off the road per year or a total of 7,200 vehicles over the lifespan of the project.
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