DFW Becomes Largest Airport in the World to Achieve Carbon Neutral Status

For the past decade, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has been steadfastly focused on reducing its environmental impact and as part of that process improving operational efficiency and cutting costs.

The Texas airport’s efforts have been woven throughout all levels of operations, encompassing waste management, energy usage, water consumption and far more. All of which has begun to pay off on multiple levels, according to a fact sheet recently released by the DFW.

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Perhaps most notably among the achievements listed, DFW has become a carbon neutral airport, making it the largest airport in the world and the first in North America to receive this distinction.

"Our initial goal was to reduce our CO2 emissions per passenger by 15 percent by 2020. We were able to achieve this goal two years ahead of schedule, and as such we’ve been able to drive more efficient operations, offset the impact of our growth and reduce our emissions per passenger,” Robert Horton, vice president of Environmental Affairs for DFW told TravelPulse. “DFW has a strong commitment to sustainability, and we will continue to look for innovative ways to reduce our emissions while improving the customer experience.”

Facility officials say their focus on conducting business in a way that balances environmental considerations with the day-to-day operations of the global super hub have resulted in numerous additional achievements as well:

—DFW recently achieved a three-year Airport Carbon Accreditation through 2021. DFW is the largest airport in the world, and the first in North America, to achieve this distinction.

—In fiscal year 2018, DFW achieved a 5.4 percent reduction in carbon emissions per passenger, reaching a 2020 strategic plan goal two years early.

—Since 2010, DFW has achieved 83 percent reduction in carbon emissions per passenger and an overall 27 percent reduction in electricity costs, all of which was accomplished while passenger totals increased 22 percent over the same period.

—DFW diverted 180,000 U.S. tons from landfills through recycling in fiscal year 2018

—DFW purchases 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, specifically Texas wind farms.

And despite naysayers who often suggest that such environmental efforts represent a costlier way to do business, the economic vitality of the airport has benefitted from all of the sustainability programs. The fact sheet highlights a number of relevant examples.

For instance, by installing highly efficient plumbing fixtures across terminals and office buildings, DFW lowered customer water usage across all five terminals, saving millions of gallons each month.

In addition, DFW has partnered with neighboring cities to create a reclaimed water-delivery system that provides water irrigation and serves as a key component in heating terminal buildings.

By regaining the water rights to Trigg Lake, a major water resource for the irrigation of Bear Creek Golf Course, DFW further reduced the potable water used for irrigation.

DFW used 126 million gallons of reclaimed water in the fiscal year 2018 and averages 100 million gallons per year.

The airport also continues to reduce the consumption of power and water, despite projected passenger growth of 66 million to 80 million in only five years.

In the fiscal year 2018, the airport reduced electricity costs by 27 percent.

Additional efforts being undertaken at the airport focus on achieving a target of zero waste. Launched in the fiscal year 2018, the zero-waste initiative aims to have a 90 percent landfill diversion rate.

“The new Zero Waste Program will improve overall performance of DFW’s diversion rate by an estimated 45 percent and reduce operational costs,” states the fact sheet.

Last year alone, DFW diverted 180,000 U.S. tons from landfills through recycling. In addition, the airport recycled more than 2.4 million pounds of concrete truck washout waste from airfield construction projects – nine times more waste than what was recycled the previous year.

All of this new data, which represents just a fraction of the airport’s sustainability efforts, was released in advance of the airport’s annual Environmental, Sustainability & Governance Report, which will be published in the coming months, officials said.

“We recognize that environmental improvement is an economic, social and business imperative for the airport and for the community we serve,” said Horton. “Sustainability touches everyone, and we look at our sustainability goals not just as expectations we need to meet, but an important responsibility.