"TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 66: Lessons Learned from Airport Sustainability Plans explores sustainability initiatives at smaller U.S. airports. The synthesis presents an analysis of survey responses and provides information gained from the telephone interviews to help inform airport leadership and employees who are considering, developing, or implementing sustainability plans." --

At head of title: Airport Cooperative Research Program.

Over the last several years airport operators have introduced green initiatives in order to improve the overall sustainability of their airports. Drivers could include financial viability, staffing considerations, or other social or environmental factors. There is a significant compilation of sustainability practices from larger airports, but a less robust description of initiatives for smaller airports. This report focuses on drivers and outcomes of green initiatives undertaken at small commercial and general aviation airports. Information used in this study was acquired through a review of the literature and survey or interviews with airport operators at small and general aviation airports. Although the study found that more than half of small airports have adopted one or more sustainable initiatives and almost 20% have a formal sustainability plan in place, many of those participating in the study do not believe that their airport has an impact on the environment, and because of lack of funding and different priorities, they choose not to pursue sustainable initiatives. However, sustainability is more than environmental initiatives. These are barriers, but more airports will pursue sustainable initiatives if more funding is made available, sustainability incentives are created, or sustainability becomes a mandate.

This report is a guidebook to help airports understand renewable energy opportunities. The report includes instructions and tools to evaluate proposed renewable energy projects and their alternatives so that an informed decision that maximizes financial, self-sustainability, environmental, and social benefits can be reached. The report lays out what a business case is, why renewable energy is important, and what a business case for renewable energy looks like. It describes the importance of identifying the project objective and understanding how renewable energy might fit into an airport’s vision. A decision-making matrix is included that contains criteria used to evaluate a renewable energy project with a system for weighting each factor based on an airport’s particular objectives. The report presents a business case in the context of an airport’s typical master planning and capital improvement planning processes including engagement of key stakeholders. The report provides a model business case that evaluates a solar photovoltaic facility, a fossil fuel generator, and a fuel cell as options for providing on-site electricity generation to improve an airport’s energy stability and resiliency. It also includes examples of renewable energy business cases from both aviation and non-aviation organizations to highlight lessons learned. A sample request for proposals and a sample power purchase agreement are provided for project implementation. A CD-ROM (CRP-CD-177) provides supplemental information.

" TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 44: Environmental Management System Development Process provides background on the framework of an environmental management system (EMS), explores similarities and differences of the various approaches to an EMS, explains the EMS development process, and highlights lessons learned by airports that have developed an EMS. " -- Publisher's description.