Develop and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) to track progress in improving environmental performance.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a management structure that helps organizations achieve environmental goals through a systematic approach toward regulatory compliance as well as sustainability issues such as energy and water management. An EMS allows organizations to clearly articulate regulatory requirements and voluntary goals, track compliance and progress, and manage data through an electronic database. This systematic approach can help reduce the risk of non-compliance, improve health and safety practices for employees and the public, enhance transparency about environmental practices, and support continuous improvement. An EMS can be tailored to meet the specific requirements and goals that apply to an organization, and does not imply that a particular level of achievement must be attained.
Practice Information
| Capital Cost: | Low Cost ($5,000 – $100,000 US) |
| O&M Cost: | Low ($5,000 – $50,000 US) |
| Payback Period: | Immediate (0 – 2 years) |
| Staffing Requirements: | Low (10 – 50 hours per month) |
| Reportability of Metrics: | Quantitative metric with baseline for comparison practices and is already tracked |
| Maturity of Practice: | Proven at multiple airports |
| Energy Reduction: | Decreases energy consumption and generates renewable energy |
| Environmental Benefits: | Significant, multiple environmental benefits |
| Social Benefits: | Moderate social benefit |
Airport Characteristics
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Case Studies
www.renoairport.com
Reno-Tahoe International Airport
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) is the owner and operator of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and a general aviation reliever airport, Reno-Stead Airport (RTS). The RTAA believes that a healthy natural environment plays a crucial role in the strength of the local economy and the local communitie’s quality of life and is essential for the sustainability of the aviation industry. In order to meet the demands of sustainable aviation development and to protect the natural environment, the RTAA’s environmental programs endeavor to improve environmental practices, support pollution reduction and prevention, and foster environmental stewardship. This commitment goes beyond compliance with the law and encompasses the integration of sound environmental practices into daily decisions and activities. RTAA has incorporated, since 2008, an Environmental Management System (EMS) into its everyday practices to continually promote environmental awareness, resource conservation, waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Aspects of the EMS include a terminal wide recycling program at RNO which annually diverts approximately 60 to 80 tons of recyclables from the local landfill. Additionally, an asphalt/concrete deconstruction and re-use program for construction projects results in a 100 percent re-use of demolished pavement. An office supply reduction and green purchasing policy has helped reduce paper usage by approximately 10 percent and to ensure the purchase of products containing higher recycled-content. Using the EMS approach, the RTAA has also implemented projects that have resulted in substantial energy savings. This includes energy efficient lighting retrofits, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades and installation of alternative energy generation. Energy efficient lighting projects involving replacement of existing lighting fixtures to light-emitting diode (LED) have resulted in an annual energy cost savings of over $250,000. HVAC projects have also resulted in considerable energy cost savings as well as operating and maintenance cost reductions of approximately $200,000 annually. Lastly, installation of a 135kW solar photovoltaic system at RNO’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility (ARFF) reduces the annual purchased electricity usage by approximately 260,000 kWh and reduces the annual electrical utility cost by approximately $30,000. Furthermore, the most effective provision of the RTAA’s EMS is that it reaffirms the responsibility of each person to conduct activities in a manner that will promote protection of employees, the local environment and sustainable aviation.
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