AUSTIN, Texas — For the second year in a row, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has been certified as carbon neutral. AUS is one of seven airports to achieve “neutrality” or higher levels of certification through the Airports Carbon Accreditation Program.
“We are very excited about it,” BJ Carpenter, sustainability coordinator for the airport's environmental division, told KVUE’s media partners at the Austin American-Statesman. “It is not an easy task to be able to achieve. For a smaller, medium-sized airport to be able to achieve this level of carbon neutrality is exciting. We think it’s a positive driver for carbon management at the airport, and we’re very proud of it.”
The Airport Carbon Accreditation Program gave the Austin airport a level 3+ accreditation, which means the airport spends money on carbon reduction projects for any emissions that can’t be fully eliminated. The Austin airport shares the credential with Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International in Canada, the only other North American airport with the same rating.
Projects to reduce emissions at AUS include airport shuttles that run on renewable natural gas, solar energy use around the airport and zero-emission ground service equipment.
“We have a long history of working with tenants and airlines at the airport to push forward sustainable initiatives, whether it be carbon reduction, resource reduction, efficiency work or airport environments,” Carpenter told the Statesman. “It’s a very collaborative industry. We learn from each other. Everybody is working together.”
A “green team” has also been created at the Austin airport and will launch next spring, according to the Statesman. It will be dedicated to communicating with neighbors about the environmental impacts of the airport’s expansion, including planned jet fuel tanks.