5.9 Sustainability in Everyday Operations

Airport sustainability actions seek to reduce environmental impacts, maintain the airport’s economic potential, and promote the goals and actions that align with the goals and values of the communities surrounding the airport.

ACRP Report 80: Guidebook for Incorporating Sustainability into Traditional Airport Projects
Describes sustainability and its potential benefits, and identifies different applications of sustainable initiatives in traditional airport construction and everyday maintenance projects. Includes case studies that can be downloaded.

ACRP Report 110: Evaluating Impacts of Sustainability Practices on Airport Operations and Maintenance
Provides guidance on using an evaluation process and cost–benefit tool to evaluate life-cycle costs of sustainability practices being considered by airport operators. The associated Evaluation Process and Cost-Benefit Tool allows airports to estimate the costs and savings of sustainability measures.

ACRP Report 148: LED Airfield Lighting System Operation and Maintenance
Provides guidance for operating and maintaining light-emitting diode (LED) airfield ground lighting systems, including taxi guidance signs, elevated light fixtures, and in-pavement light fixtures.

ACRP Report 154: Water Efficiency Management Strategies for Airports
Provides a guidebook and tools that airport operators can use to design and institute a water efficiency management program specific to their facility.

ACRP Research Report 174: Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Volume 1: Primer
Defines and discusses green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) management strategies, a relatively new approach to regulation compliance. As more airports are proactively incorporating sustainable practices in all aspects of their operations, federal and state regulatory agencies are also promoting GSI strategies to comply with water regulations and requirements. The primer is written for the airport manager, planner, and engineer seeking to understand stormwater management and how GSI can comply with regulatory standards and requirements along with other benefits.

ACRP Research Report 174: Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Volume 2: Guidebook
Defines and discusses green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) management strategies, a relatively new approach to regulation compliance. As more airports are proactively incorporating sustainable practices in all aspects of their operations, federal and state regulatory agencies are also promoting GSI strategies to comply with water regulations and requirements. The guidebook assists airport staff with evaluating the applicability of a GSI strategy and how to select an appropriate GSI strategy.

ACRP Synthesis 21: Airport Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction
Explores energy efficiency improvements being implemented at airports across the country that are low cost and short payback.

ACRP Synthesis 35: Issues with Use of Airfield LED Light Fixtures
Documents the performance of LED airfield lighting systems.

ACRP Synthesis 66: Lessons Learned from Airport Sustainability Plans
Explores sustainability initiatives at smaller U.S. airports. The synthesis presents an analysis of survey responses and provides information gained from the telephone interviews to help inform airport leadership and employees who are considering, developing, or implementing sustainability plans.

ACRP Synthesis 69: Airport Sustainability Practices—Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and General Aviation Airports
Explores drivers and outcomes of green initiatives undertaken at small commercial and general aviation airports. Drivers could include financial viability, staffing considerations, or other social or environmental factors.

ACRP Synthesis 77: Airport Sustainability Practices
Compiles information about airport sustainability practices and adds them to the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance (SAGA) website. The SAGA website was developed to assist airport operators in developing sustainability programs and provide guidance to those who have new data to input.

Chicago Sustainable Airport Manual
Provides comprehensive guidance to incorporate and track sustainability in administrative procedures, planning, design and construction, operations and maintenance, concessions, and tenants with minimal impact to project schedules or budgets. Created by the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Colorado General Aviation Sustainability Program
Provides guidance and resources to general aviation airports in Colorado to help airport staffs prepare their own individually customized sustainability plans.

FAA Advisory Circular 150/5345-53: Airport Lighting Equipment Certification Program
Provides information on how an organization can get FAA acceptance as a third-party certification body (third-party certifier) and how manufacturers may get equipment qualified under the program. It includes a list of the equipment certified under the program.

FAA Airport Sustainability
Provides sustainability resources for airports including a list of airports that completed sustainability master plans and airport sustainability plans.

Florida Airport Sustainability Guidebook
Provides a standardized methodology and guidance for developing an effective sustainability plan and implementing sustainability initiatives.

Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance
Allows exploration and sharing of sustainability information. While geared toward airports, this site is useful for all industries to learn about sustainability, share ideas and experiences, search for practices based on custom information, and efficiently plan, implement, and monitor sustainability activities.