Energy savings of up to $1 million a year identified at Auckland International Airport

Auckland Airport will potentially save $1m each year by changing the way it uses energy in its international terminal.

The airport’s sustainability advisor, Martin Fryer, said many of the changes required minimal investment yet will yield fast results.

“By simply making some small adjustments to our temperature and airflow settings, we can make major energy savings. We have learnt that a little goes a long way in terms of how we use our heating, cooling and water.

“At the same time, it is important that we do not reduce the quality of the experience for approximately seven million passengers using the terminal each year. For instance a very small adjustment to the amount of water used by the showers and taps around the terminal building saves us $80,000 a year immediately, yet the change is barely noticeable to passengers.”

Some of the changes being adopted at the airport include allowing seasonal variations of the terminal’s internal temperature to take account of the external weather conditions, reducing the amount of water flowing through showers and taps, and simply turning off appliances that are not required.

The total savings the airport will make could power 1,200 houses. By making these changes, the airport will reduce its entire energy consumption by 26 per cent and its carbon footprint by 10 per cent.

“This programme is just one part of the airport’s wider environmental strategy to drive down our carbon footprint and introduce a better, more efficient way of working,” Mr Fryer said. “We’ll achieve payback on all the changes within two years and will be looking at ways we can apply similar adjustments across the entire airport operation.”

The savings were identified through an Energy Management Association of New Zealand (EMANZ) independent energy audit.

Ewan Gebbie, executive officer of EMANZ, said there is increased pressure on organisations to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations, and to prove they are sustainable.

“Auckland International Airport has identified that using energy efficiently has a direct link to its carbon footprint. An organisation that has better control of its energy resources is more likely to have a sustainable business model, through to reduced costs, enhanced productivity and a more environmentally conscious outlook.

“With this outlook, the airport will continue to be regarded as one of the best in the world.”