Salt Lake International Airport
accessibility

SLC Airport Celebrates Earth Week

Posted

Last month, the Salt Lake City Department of Airports celebrated Earth Week by acknowledging employees who have contributed to sustainability.  The EONS Awards Ceremony (Economic Viability, Operational Efficiency, Natural Resource Conservation and Social Responsibility) recognized employees in divisions across the airport for making efficiencies, repurposing materials, reducing waste, being stewards of natural resources, and supporting the community. High fives and fist bumps for all our employees who help us find efficiencies and help us continually improve our sustainability track record!

EONS Winners

Here are a few fun facts on SLC sustainability:

  •  In the past 12 years the airport has averaged over 160,000 gallons per year of CNG, which equals approximately 45% of our total fuel use for the entire fleet. This has resulted in a reduction of 10,000 pounds in emissions output per year.
  •  The airport manages its own greenhouse that grows over 6,000 native and drought tolerant plants.
  •  Our landscape water conservation plan saves 600 million gallons of water each year.
  •  Salt Lake City International has 23 water bottle refill stations throughout the concourses and tenant areas. The stations save approximately 850,000 plastic bottles from going to the landfills each year.
  •  LED lights have been installed in runway lighting, tunnels, parking lighting and throughout the terminals.
Greenhouse 2BD6A2837Jan 28 2015

The airport’s environmental progress will continue, says Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator Kevin Staples. “We are making improvements every day to sustainability here at SLC,” Kevin says. “I work with employees day in and day out who are finding efficiencies large and small. They all add up to make a big difference.”

SLC International is also scheduled to release a sustainability dashboard later this year. The dashboard is an online tool that the public can use to see various metrics of sustainability performance at SLC and suggest their own ideas.

Salt Lake City’s Terminal Redevelopment Program will build upon the airport’s success in sustainability. Newer, more energy efficient buildings will replace our current facilities and will make better use of natural light and renewable resources. The airport’s redevelopment team is aiming for a LEED Gold Certification for the new terminal.