Life-Cycle Approach to Healthy Airport Terminal Buildings: Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Mitigation Strategies for Addressing the Pollutants that Affect Climate Change and Human Health

Abstract

The potential environmental and human health impacts associated with constructing and operating terminal buildings is explored for commercial airports in the United States. Research objectives are to quantify: (1) baseline and mitigated greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria air pollutant (CAP) emissions; (2) operational costs; and (3) climate change damages from terminal building construction and materials, operational energy consumption, water consumption and wastewater generation, and solid waste generation. An Excel-based decision-support tool, Airport Terminal Environmental Support Tool (ATEST), has been created to allow stakeholders to conduct preliminary assessments of current baseline and potential mitigated impacts. Emissions are quantified using a life-cycle approach that accounts for cradle-to-grave effects. Climate change and human health indicators are characterized using EPA’s Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemical Impact (TRACI) factors. ATEST is applied to multiple case study airports— Reno/Tahoe International (RNO), Pittsburgh International (PIT), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), San Francisco International (SFO), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)—to demonstrate its scalability and capability to assess varying spatial factors. Across all airports, electricity mix and construction are significant in determining GHG and CAP emissions, respectively. A sensitivity analysis of GHG emissions for the SFO case study reveals that the electricity mix, amount of electricity consumed within the terminal, terminal gross area, and amount of compostables in the solid waste stream have the most impact on increasing annual GHG emissions. ATEST represents a crucial first step in helping stakeholders to make decisions that will lead to healthier, more sustainable airport terminals.

Airport sustainability through life cycle assessments: A systematic literature review

“…Greer et al focused on the impact of terminal renovation and maintenance on climate change and human health by analyzing the baseline and mitigated GHG and CAP emissions associated with building and operating terminals. They quantified life cycle GHG and CAP emissions, operational costs, and monetized climate damages for four modules, namely, building materials; operational energy; water and wastewater; and solid waste and showed that the electricity mix, amount of electricity consumed in the terminal, terminal gross area, and amount of compostable in the solid waste stream have the most impact on increasing annual Global Warming Potential (GWP) (Greer et al, 2023).…”

“…Altuntas et al applied gate-to-gate method of LCA in the analysis of ground operations of APU and GPU in airports but did not include GSE in the analysis (Altuntas et al, 2014). Another study focused only on the LCA of airport terminal buildings to analyze the mitigation strategies and address the pollutants that affect climate change and human health (Greer et al, 2023). Similar research centered on the LCA of GHG emissions and economic implications of electrifying gate operations (Greer et al, 2021).…”

“…Upgrades are essential to improve passenger experience, comply with environmental regulations, and reduce exposure to infectious diseases. These changes should incorporate the healthy building concept, emphasizing sustainability for both the environment and people (Greer et al, 2023). Naturally, studies have considered the possibility of environmentally friendly approaches such as green architecture and green operations within an airport (Kaszewski & Sheate, 2004).…”

“…Opportunities for reducing environmental impacts from airports include mitigating aircraft emissions within the airport boundary (which comprise the bulk of airport's operational emissions), and reducing airport facility‐related emissions (Greer et al, 2023). These will help achieve GHG emission reduction targets.…”

“…Greer et al focused on the impact of terminal renovation and maintenance on climate change and human health by analyzing the baseline and mitigated GHG and CAP emissions associated with building and operating terminals. They quantified life cycle GHG and CAP emissions, operational costs, and monetized climate damages for four modules, namely, building materials; operational energy; water and wastewater; and solid waste and showed that the electricity mix, amount of electricity consumed in the terminal, terminal gross area, and amount of compostable in the solid waste stream have the most impact on increasing annual Global Warming Potential (GWP)(Greer et al, 2023).The other 9 papers centered on aircraft operations within airport boundary (including LTO cycle) and ground operations (including APU, GSE, and GPU). Sznajderman et al, analyzed the influence of aircraft apron parking positions at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport to observe that during LTO cycle of the studied aircraft, GSE emissions have similar relation with the compared gases (NO x and CO) (Sznajderman et al, 2021).…”