Oakland International Airport’s New Terminal Gets Silver

The new Terminal 2 at Oakland International Airport (OAK) in California was recently awarded LEED-Silver certification by the USGBC, according to a recent blog post.  It is the first airport passenger terminal in the United States to be awarded a silver certification, the post said.

The terminal—housing Southwest Airlines’ gates at the airport—achieved the certification for conserving energy, materials, and water, and incorporating other sustainable strategies.

The executive director of the Port of Oakland, Omar Benjamin, explained in the post how the new Terminal 2 at OAK signifies the Port’s commitment to sustainability: “The Port of Oakland’s environmental leadership is exemplified through this prestigious award. Our investment in state-of-the-art green building practices will result in long-term savings of energy, water, and operating costs that will continue throughout the life of Terminal 2. Additionally, our community is benefiting as we are reducing the airport’s operational impact on the environment.”

OAK’s Terminal 2 extension and renovation earned a Silver certification for a host of sustainable features, including energy efficiency measures that exceed California energy standards by 25 percent and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 211 tons yearly; diversion from landfills of more than 80 percent of jobsite waste; 24 percent less water use than a conventionally built terminal; use of low-VOC paints, carpets, glue, cabinetry, and plywood throughout; an advanced stormwater treatment system that channels runoff into swales that remove waterborne pollutants; and establishment of a “green housekeeping” program to reduce environmental and health impacts of cleaning products and chemicals.

Terminal 2, completed in 2007, added 108,000 square feet of space to the airport, including seven new gates; an expanded ticketing and passenger screening area; a centralized food, beverage, and retail shopping area. Together, these areas add significant capacity to a facility that is the fourth-largest of its kind in the state of California.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com