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Carbon emissions and energy use
George Best Belfast City Airport recognises the contribution that aviation makes to climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and takes its responsibility for reducing its GHG emissions seriously. The most common GHG is Carbon Dioxide (CO2). CO2 emissions typically result from aircraft movements in the air and on the ground; the operation of ground support vehicles; and energy use in the airport buildings.
Our Policy
GBBCA seeks to minimise its carbon footprint and operating costs through the efficient use of energy. Furthermore, GBBCA seeks to influence all business partners operating on-site to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Objectives & Targets
Our objective is to minimise utilities cost and consumption. Over the period 2010-11, GBBCA aims to:
•Install an Automatic Monitoring & Targeting System. This will help us to save energy by identifying energy wastage and ensuring the long-term effectiveness of other energy saving investment measures.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive energy reduction and awareness raising programme across the airport.
• Re-charge energy consumption to business partners wherever possible (using the AMT system when installed) in order to incentivise business partners to increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption.
Carbon and Energy Initiatives
• Energy Audit: An audit of the airport terminal was carried out in early 2009 to identify opportunities for energy reductions.
• Installation of Energy Saving Devices: GBBCA has made significant investments to install energy saving devices in the terminal such as energy efficient bulbs and motion sensors in the terminal lighting as well as a Building Energy Management System to control and monitor the heating and cooling of the terminal building.
• Energy Awareness Campaign: In 2009, an energy awareness campaign was launched for airport staff which involved energy briefings, the deployment of ‘switch it off’ posters and stickers and the inclusion of articles on energy efficiency in the airport’s City News. In January 2010, a team of GBBCA staff participated in the Carbon Trust's 'Taming the Bigfoot' interactive workshop which was aimed at raising awareness of energy wastage both in the home and in the workplace.
• Airport Carbon Management Group Membership: GBBCA is a member of the Airport Carbon Management Group, a forum to allow for the benchmarking of energy performance of, and carbon emissions from, UK and International airports. Through ACMG, GBBCA can gather information, share ideas and examine case studies on energy and emission reduction projects from other airports.
• Earth Hour: GBBCA once again participated in WWF's Earth Hour on Saturday 27th March 2010. At 20:30 GBBCA turned off the George Best signage at the front of the terminal as well as many of our advertising light boxes for one hour. Most of our business partners also made an effort to support GBBCA during Earth Hour.
Our Performance
Working closely with the Carbon Trust and our facilities management contractors, between 2003 and 2009, airport carbon emissions from energy consumption have been reduced by 12% and carbon emissions per passenger have fallen from 1.87 kilos to 1.24 kilos. Energy use per passenger has reduced by 38% from 4.24 kWh in 2003 to 2.63 kWh in 2009.