The Airport of the Future

Construction at the new green terminal's ticketing hall in February. Photo: Michael Townsend

When you think of airports and air travel, “environmental responsibility” probably isn’t the first phrase to come to mind, but San Francisco International Airport‘s $383 million renovation may change how the air travel industry works.

SFO’s renovated second terminal – set to re-open April 14 – is slated to become the nation’s first airport terminal to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The upgrade is expected to reduce the airport’s carbon emissions by an estimated 1,667 tons annually.

The revamped 640,000-square-foot terminal, called “T2,” will be the new base for Virgin America’s and American Airlines’ domestic flights. Designed by Gensler Architects, T2 also aims to educate SFO’s 6 million visitors about green living.

“SFO is setting new standards for sustainability and the traveler experience,” said SFO Director John Martin. “T2 has been built to accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s modern traveler — and they expect sustainability, comfort and convenience. We have found a way to provide all of those elements here at SFO.”

Can an airport really be green?

Here are some highlights of T2’s green features:

• Energy savings: T2 will use energy-efficient lighting and other equipment to reduce the terminal’s energy use. The bulk of T2’s estimated annual carbon savings will come from energy efficiency: 1,640 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
• Daylighting: T2’s design harnesses the sun’s natural light to reduce the need for artificial lighting and to make the airport’s atmosphere more pleasant for travelers and employees.
• Recycling and composting: The renovation’s contractors, Turner Construction, have recycled 90 percent of the project’s construction and demolition material. SFO already had an extensive recycling and composting program and will require all food vendors in the new terminal to use compostable service ware and compost their food waste.
• Waste reduction: To encourage passengers to travel with reusable water bottles, T2 will have “hydration stations,” where visitors can refill water bottles once they are through security screening.
• Water savings: T2’s new plumbing fixtures are very efficient, using 40 percent less water than standard fixtures. The terminal also has a dual plumbing system, so treated wastewater can be used for restroom toilets.
• Green dining: Food vendors will offer local organic food whenever possible.
• Green building materials: The renovation used recycled-content flooring, carpet and tiles to conserve virgin materials and used low-emitting paints to create excellent indoor air quality. Much of the existing building was reused in the renovation, which reduced the project’s carbon footprint itself by about 12,300 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Access to public transit: T2 will have a pedestrian bridge to connect travelers with the Bay Area’s subway system.

T2 is also intended to be a place for travelers to enjoy themselves. There will be installations by world-known artists, children’s play areas, and a retail street with shops, a wine bar and a spa.

“Gensler’s design for SFO T2 will upend the generic placelessness of many airports by creating an authentic Bay Area experience within the terminal’s walls,” according to the architecture firm’s press release.

For business travelers, the terminal offers numerous laptop plug-in stations and free wireless Internet.

Outside of T2

San Francisco International Airport is greening its operations and will be opening a new terminal with many sustainable-design features next month. Photo: SFO

The new terminal isn’t the only way SFO has been trying to reduce its environmental impact in the last few years; the airport adopted a goal of making its operations carbon neutral by 2020.

All airport-operated shuttle buses run on biodiesel, and SFO gives customers discounts for renting fuel-efficient vehicles. At kiosks in one terminal, passengers can purchase carbon credits to offset their travels by funding sustainable forestry and renewable energy projects in Northern California.

SFO also operates a comprehensive recycling and composting program, with the ultimate objective of reducing its waste stream by 90 pecent by 2020. In addition to requiring all SFO restaurants to participate in the composting program, the airport sorts the contents of all public trash cans to rescue any misplaced recyclables before the garbage is shipped to the landfill.