The article, “From Use of Green Materials to Renewable Energy: Green Airports are the Future of Air Travel” by Kulkarni (2022), explores the advantages and features of a green airport. A green airport refers to a more environmentally friendly infrastructure that reduces the ecological footprint of airport operations contributing to high carbon emissions. With the increasing concern about global warming in recent years, ideas of green airports have been introduced to mitigate the negative impact of airport operations on the environment (Kulkarni, 2022). Green airports' unique features set them apart in fostering environmental sustainability within the aviation industry. Its energy-efficient design prioritizes the maximization of natural lighting reducing the need for artificial lighting (Durgut, 2023). Additionally, a green airport uses eco-friendly and recycled building materials, reducing construction's negative effects on the environment (Kulkarni, 2022). Lastly, another distinctive feature of a green airport is the active participation in carbon offset programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with airport operations (Hosari, 2022). With these advanced features, a green airport becomes an infrastructure with multifaceted benefits. The effectiveness of green airport initiatives is evident in Singapore Changi Airport (SCA), recognized as the world’s best airport, serving as a benchmark for emerging green airports with its energy-efficient design, eco-friendly and recycled building materials, and active participation in the carbon offset program.
SCA employs innovative designs to enhance energy efficiency and minimize its environmental impact. A notable example would be the strategic deployment of photocell sensors. These sensors, installed in terminal areas that receive ample natural light, are pivotal features implemented by the Changi Airport Group. It intelligently detects daylight levels and adjusts artificial lighting, accordingly, ensuring optimal illumination and economical energy usage. This not only effectively reduces reliance on artificial lighting in well-lit spaces but also contributes significantly to energy conservation and sustainability (Changi Airport Group, 2021). Complementing this initiative, dnata, a global air and travel services provider has integrated a 3.5 megawatt-peak rooftop solar panel power system into its operations at SCA. This installation spans across the cargo and catering facilities, showcasing a commitment to renewable energy (Chandak, 2022). As Utilities One (2023) emphasizes, "By minimizing energy consumption and utilizing renewable sources, energy-efficient buildings significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions." With the help of the solar power system, it enables a substantial 20% annual reduction in electricity-related carbon emissions in Singapore (Chandak, 2022).
The incorporation of eco-friendly and recycled building materials stands out as a distinctive feature of green airports, reflecting a commitment to minimizing environmental impact through conscientious material choices. At SCA, this commitment is exemplified in the reconstruction of the aircraft parking bay. Typically, such aircraft parking bays have a lifespan of 25 years; this leads to the disposal of old materials as construction waste and the introduction of new construction materials, often comprising a concrete mix with 100% new stone (Changi Airport Group, 2019). In contrast, SCA employs a sustainable approach by utilizing recycled concrete in its construction projects. According to Changi Airport Group (2019), an engineering collaboration with a local university has resulted in a concrete design mix that incorporates 50% new stones and 50% recycled stones. This approach extends the life of existing materials and reduces the demand for new resources. By adopting these practices, SCA contributes to the overall reduction of the construction industry's ecological impact.
Active participation in the carbon offset program is another unique feature of a green airport. At SCA, travelers can calculate their carbon emissions based on flight origin, destination, and class of travel through the Changi Airport website or app (Changi Airport Group, 2023). According to the Straits Times, this program “supports environmental projects such as rainforest preservation and the construction of solar energy projects across India” (Loi,2023). These programs help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with airport operations by compensating for their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce an equivalent number of emissions elsewhere.
However, as the SCA expands in the future, the increasing air traffic will surpass its existing facilities, demanding more land to accommodate future expansion and travel demand. SCA has been looking for ways to address this issue such as utilizing land reclamation, through this SCA can continue to uphold its position as the world’s best airport, fostering sustainable growth with minimal impact on the environment (Han, 2023).
In conclusion, SCA is a prime example of a green airport and indicates a significant move towards more sustainable aviation practices. The implementation of energy-efficient designs the use of eco-friendly materials and active participation in carbon offset programs, these initiatives showcase the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. Despite potential challenges such as land limitation, the combined efforts of these initiatives significantly help reduce the environmental impact linked to airport operations.
References
Chandak, P. (2022, April 25). Dnata installs 3.5 MW Rooftop Solar System at Changi Airport, Singapore. SolarQuarter. https://solarquarter.com/2022/04/25/dnata-installs-3-5-mw-rooftop-solar-system-at-changi-airport-singapore%EF%BF%BC%EF%BF%BC%EF%BF%BC/
Changi Airport Group. (2019, March). Recycling concrete - Paving the way to a sustainable future.
https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/sustainability/sustainable-changi/recycle-concrete.html#:~:text=Through%20an%20engineering%20collaboration%20with,durability%20of%20the%20 parking%20 bays.
Changi Airport Group. (n.d.). CAG Sustainability Report 2021.PDF. https://www.changiairport.com/content/dam/cacorp/sustainability/sustainable-changi/sustainability-report/CAG%20SUSTAINABILITY%20REPORT%202021.pdf
Durgut, M. (2023, January 29). Green and eco-friendly airports: The Future of Air Travel. https://www.aviationfile.com/green-and-eco-friendly-airports/#:~:text=Energy%20Efficiency%3A%20Green%20airports%20make,systems%20to%20reduce%20energy%20consumption
Han, Z. (2023, December 10). 6 challenges faced by Changi Airport. Your Comfort Trip. https://yourcomforttrip.com/challenges-faced-by-changi-airport/
Hosari, O. (2022, July 28). The rise of Green Airports. LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-green-airports-omar-hosari
Kulkarni, S. (2022, April 13). From use of green materials to renewable energy: Green airports are the future of Air Travel. Aviation Pros. https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/article/21260263/from-use-of-green-materials-to-renewable-energy-green-airports-are-the-future-of-air-travel
Loi, Esther. (2023, 15 November). Passengers can offset carbon emissions from air travel under new Changi Airport initiative.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/changi-airport-rolls-out-carbon-offset-programme-for-passengers
