Hartsfield-Jackson’s international terminal earns LEED Gold certification

Achievement reflects focus on sustainability in construction, operation of facility

ATLANTA – 2012-12-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has achieved the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification.

The 1.2 million-square-foot terminal and concourse were built with recycled and/or regionally produced construction materials, and several steps were taken to ensure air quality, to conserve water and energy, and to increase the use of natural light.

“This recognition is a testament to the City of Atlanta’s strong commitment to sustainability on a broad level,” said Duriya Farooqui, chief operating officer. “We are pleased with and congratulate the Department of Aviation for a continued focus in this important area.”

“We are extremely proud of this achievement, which highlights our focus on minimizing the international terminal’s impact on the environment,” said Aviation General Manager Louis Miller. “Earning the LEED Gold certification for the international terminal is another step in Hartsfield-Jackson’s journey to become the world’s greenest airport.”

Among the eco-friendly features at the international terminal are:

• A 25,000-cubic-foot “water box” that collects rainwater from the roof, cleanses the water through a series of filters and releases it into the environment.

• A comprehensive cleaning program that uses environmentally friendly procedures and products that conform to one of the strictest standards set by the nonprofit organization Green Seal.

• A single-stream recycling program through which recyclables are collected in 50-gallon, stainless-steel drums and are sorted off-site.

• Low-flow faucets and toilets, which use at least 40 percent less water than standard fixtures.

• Several features designed to reduce energy consumption, including specialized heating and air conditioning units, low-reflective materials on roofs and roadways, and thermal glazing strategies to reduce heat loss through glass.

“Achieving LEED Gold certification says to passengers, the community and the employees that Hartsfield-Jackson is committed to conserving natural resources,” said Jim Drinkard, assistant general manager for Planning and Development. “This is the largest project for which the Airport has earned LEED certification, and that gives us confidence that we can achieve eco-friendly excellence for all types and scales of building projects.”

The LEED certification program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council and recognizes organizations that construct buildings with a strong emphasis on environmental performance.

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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest airport, serving more than 92 million passengers annually with nonstop service to 160 U.S. destinations and nearly 70 international destinations in more than 45 countries. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, architectural engineering and construction – including the 2011 Global and North American Airport Efficiency Excellence Award from the Air Transport Research Society (for more information, go to www.atrsworld.org). It is undergoing $6 billion-plus in capital improvements, which include a new, energy-efficient rental car center; a new, 12-gate international terminal (for more information, go to www.atlanta-airport.com/internationalterminal/;and aesthetic and functional upgrades to its concourses, people movers and parking services. For more information, go to www.atlanta-airport.com. Check out the Airport’s YouTube channel by visiting http://www.youtube.com/AtlantaHartsfield, and become a fan on Facebook.

Contact: DeAllous Smith
(404) 925-6815