Hong Kong Int. Airport aims to be world’s greenest

Monday, 21 May 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and 40 business partners last week pledged to make Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) the world’s greenest airport.

In 2011, the Hong Kong airport community achieved a 10% reduction in carbon intensity, which is on track with its goal pledged in 2010 to lower HKIA’s carbon intensity by 25% from 2008 emission levels by 2015.

The airport community has carried out more than 300 green initiatives to achieve the 10% reduction, including installing LEDs, improving chiller systems, introducing more energy-efficient vehicles and launching green educational programmes.

Last week, LSG Sky Chefs, Gate Gourmet Hong Kong Limited and Asia Airfreight Terminal Company were recognised with “Most Effective Carbon Reduction” gold, silver and bronze awards respectively for their outstanding individual achievements in carbon reduction.

AAHK also showcased its newly acquired fleet of 31 electric saloon vehicles. AAHK now possesses the largest fleet of electric saloon vehicles in Hong Kong and will encourage its business partners to replace their old vehicles with electric-powered ones to further reduce emissions. In 2011 AAHK began a rolling three-year environmental plan, covering a wide range of targets and initiatives designed to make HKIA the global leader in environmental performance. In particular, these initiatives demonstrate the airport’s commitment to the “three Rs” of environmental protection: reducing, reusing and recycling.

In the area of energy and emissions reduction, AAHK will complete the replacement of more than 100,000 lighting applications with LEDs by the end of 2014. AAHK has also said that all new saloon cars in the Airport Restricted Area (ARA) must be electric from mid-2013, and that the entire ARA saloon fleet must be electric by 2017.

AAHK will invest HK$40 million to install more charging stations in phases. In addition, the use of Auxiliary Power Units when parked at aircraft parking stands will be banned in 2014, after which time all aircraft will use Fixed Ground Power and Pre-conditioned Air systems except for special operational reasons.

In terms of reuse, AAHK will increase the grey water treatment capacity to 6,000 cubic metres per day within the year, which is equivalent to recycling the daily water usage of 7,000 four-member families. AAHK will also enhance recyclables separation at the Airside Waste Station and work with all tenants on the airport island to achieve its goal of separating and recycling all recyclables within 10 years, except those that are unhygienic to handle.