It’s no secret that airplanes release their fair share of carbon emissions, but thanks to solar powered airports you can feel better about adding flights onto your green travel agenda. At one point, the idea of solar-powered airports might have might have only been drawn up on an episode of the Jetsons, but thanks to green technology a few determined architects and engineers, solar-powered airports are closer than you might think.
Airports around the country have slowly started to experiment with alternate energy sources that have not only cut down on yearly costs and expenses, but will also greatly contribute to protecting the environment. Now, you can.
Sure, recycling programs and waste-reduction plans were stellar additions to Earth Day schedules around the world, but these airports are making even more concrete pledges to sustaining the environment by improving their physical structures.
According to USA Today, the following airports are making great strides along the green travel route:
Flights to San Francisco International Airport that arrive at Terminal 3 will appreciate the 2,800 rooftop solar panels that produce enough power to light the terminal during the day. San Fran’s Terminal 2 is also on its way to green travel standards, as its solar and wind power plans come to fruition.
If your California flight lands at Long Beach Airport, then breathe easy knowing that the “solar forest” built in 2008 does its job to keep the place green. The six solar “trees,” (the 9 foot x 9 foot structures) actually shift according to the sun’s movement, which allows for maximum energy absorption and distribution. The folks at Long Beach Airport are so pleased with the energy and cost savings that they’ve decided to build even more to power the new parking facility being built.
High up in the towering altitudes of Denver, another airport makes green travel more accessible. Denver International Airport has set aside 7.5 acres south of its main entrance, where 2-megawatt solar array systems of 9,200 panels trail the sun. How much do they save in energy costs? About 50 percent.
If half sounds like serious eco-travel progress, then Oakland International Airport will amaze you. Boasting 80 percent of its energy from a 904-kilowatt solar power system on its roof, the facility is miles ahead than some other energy-pumping palaces.
If your green travel is centered around the great outdoors, then booking a flight to Fresno Yosemite International Airport is your the gateway to woodsy paradise. Here, 20 acres of land holds 12,000 solar panels. Now, half of the airport’s energy is supplied by solar means, which also greatly reduces the annual energy bill. Budgeted at $1.3 million, the establishment ended up spending less than $1 million.
You truly can expect everything to be bigger when you book a flight to Texas. Two solar panel arrays at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were installed in 1998. One saves energy for the airport’s cargo facilities, and the other one is planted at the taxi station (which doubles as relieving shade for the drivers).
The little spinning devices on top of Boston’s Logan International Airport may not be designed for solar advances, but work efficiently to gain from wind power. The 20 6-foot wind turbines have even proven to stand up to the ever-changing New England weather.
So, yes, it’s better for the environment if you walk 500 miles rather than fly, but at least airports are getting their acts together and making green travel easier with every UV ray.
© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney
