Five ways TPA is reducing its carbon footprint right now
Tampa Bay and all of the natural resources it provides is a treasure. Tampa International Airport is doing its part to ensure it stays this way.
Tampa International Airport wants to make sure the airport, along with the beautiful region surrounding it, is enjoyed by generations to come. One way to do this is by reducing its own CO2 emissions as well as also emissions of all other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide, and this is done through several initiatives and gas-saving measures.
Here are five things TPA has done in the past few years to cut down on its impact – as well as those of its 22 million passengers – on our environment.
-
Powering down the escalators: Your mind isn’t playing tricks. That empty escalator you’re approaching is moving super slow until you get close enough to step on it. Our variable speed escalators are up to 30 percent more energy efficient, slowing down when not in use to conserve precious power.
- Installing LED lighting: Many homes in the Tampa Bay area have switched to using the energy-saving and longer lasting LED
lighting, and we’ve switched to LED in our house too. We have more daylight coming into the Main Terminal now, reducing the need for lighting in certain areas, and even our airfield and taxiways use LED lighting at night. This and other power-saving measures have helped TPA reduce its electricity consumption by 10 percent per passenger since 2011.
lighting, and we’ve switched to LED in our house too. We have more daylight coming into the Main Terminal now, reducing the need for lighting in certain areas, and even our airfield and taxiways use LED lighting at night. This and other power-saving measures have helped TPA reduce its electricity consumption by 10 percent per passenger since 2011.
- Use of CNG, electric and hybrid vehicles: Our fleet of employee and maintenance vehicles we use on and around airport property now consists of 42 percent alternative fuel vehicles, with two-thirds of those using compressed natural gas (CNG) and the other third being electric or hybrid. We’re working toward a goal of having a 70 percent alternative fuel fleet in the near future, which will greatly reduce emissions.
- Offering more plant-based food options for our passengers: Along with being good for your body, eating a plant-based diet has
been scientifically proven to also be good for the environment. There are several reasons for this, including a reduction in the production of methane gas, one of the main gasses that are believed to cause global warming. As we redeveloped our concessions program over the last four years, we ensured our new restaurants and grab-and-go foods included plenty of vegan and vegetarian options such as salads, fresh fruit, veggie burgers and other veggie-based dishes. Check out our Waypointe TPA guide for more about our restaurant options.
been scientifically proven to also be good for the environment. There are several reasons for this, including a reduction in the production of methane gas, one of the main gasses that are believed to cause global warming. As we redeveloped our concessions program over the last four years, we ensured our new restaurants and grab-and-go foods included plenty of vegan and vegetarian options such as salads, fresh fruit, veggie burgers and other veggie-based dishes.
- Reducing unnecessary mileage on our roadways: Simply by moving our rental car operations to our new (and energy-efficient!)
Rental Car Center, we’ve decongested our roadways and curbsides and removed 3.8 million vehicles annually. This saves fuel and emissions amounting to the equivalent of 48,000 acres of trees over their lifetime sequestering that CO2. Our bus partners, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, also like our new Rental Car Center bus curbside, which saves their buses fuel and time by not having to circle the terminal roadways.
Rental Car Center, we’ve decongested our roadways and curbsides and removed 3.8 million vehicles annually. This saves fuel and emissions amounting to the equivalent of 48,000 acres of trees over their lifetime sequestering that CO2. Our bus partners, the
This is just the beginning, as TPA is always looking for ways to reduce its impact on the environment through waste and water recycling, LEED building practices and other measures. To learn more about our sustainability efforts, go to www.tampaairport.com/sustainability.