The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that aviation emissions represent approximately 2% of global anthropogenic Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This amount is predicted to increase as demand growth outstrips industry-wide efficiency gains while other sectors achieve a reduction. While aircraft are a significant source of aviation emissions, additional airport sources include ground support equipment emissions, fleet vehicles and stationary sources such as boilers, generators and incinerators.

Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) implemented a proactive emissions reduction plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air contaminants for groundside and airside operations at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport. Many of the reduction initiatives were achieved with the construction and operation of the energy efficient Airport Terminal Building (ATB).

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport

SITE MANAGEMENT

A number of sustainable features were incorporated into the site design. Prior to development, the ATB site consisted of concrete aprons and turf on a campus comprised of the existing terminal building, control tower, administration building, central utilities building, hotel, parkade and parking lots. WAA looked at the site holistically. The stormwater sewer system was dated and could not handle the additional stormwater run-off the new ATB would generate, nor service the existing infrastructure. WAA built a land drainage sewer system with an oil/grit separator that is able to remove 80% of suspended solids and a dry pond that prevents overflow from entering the system.

WAA set aside an area greater than the ATB’s 22,779 SM footprint, which has been planted with plant species indigenous to Manitoba. The grasses include a variety of fescue species, creating a meadow that mimics the rolling, hummocky landscape you would find in natural prairie grasslands. By planting native species, a fixed irrigation system is not required, enabling WAA to realize significant water savings.

WAA mitigated the heat island effect by reserving a dedicated green space and by using concrete as a hardscape surface. WAA’s pavement cleaning program ensures that the concrete maintains its reflectivity.

WATER EFFICIENCY

The ATB was designed to achieve a 28% reduction in water consumption through the installation and use of low-flow fixtures.

By planting species that are indigenous to Manitoba, no irrigation or potable water use for landscaping will occur beyond the initial two year planting establishment period.

ENERGY CoNSERvATIoN STRATEGIES

In an effort to reduce the terminal building’s overall energy consumption, WAA implemented the following features:

• High performance building envelope • Exhaust air heat recovery • Heat recovery chillers • Variable frequency drives on pumps and fans • Daylight harvesting

Based on the LEED Energy Model, it is estimated that the building would achieve a total GHG reduction of over 5,000 tonnes per year when compared to code, equivalent to taking over 1,000 cars off the road for 1 year.

DESIGN AND SYSTEMS

Passive Systems

During the design stage, iterative energy and daylight simulations were used to help balance daylighting with undesirable solar glare. The end result is a building that allows for passive heating in the winter and solar protection in the summer. The building takes full advantage of daylight harvesting using a high performance glass curtain wall that transmits sunlight while minimizing glare. Ceramic frits work with a series of sunshades and an expansive canopy to reduce direct solar heat gain. To maximize solar heating, the perimeter of the concrete floor plate is able to function as a solar collector and transfer the energy into the radiant heating and cooling system that runs along the perimeter of the building. Photo sensors and occupancy sensors help ensure that artificial lighting is turned off in areas and rooms that are sufficiently day lit or unoccupied.

Displacement Ventilation System

Jet diffusers condition large open areas and ventilation totems provide heating in conjunction with the radiant floor heating system. The ventilation totems alternate seasonally between providing warm air from the bottom and cool air from the top, helping to condition only the lower 10 feet of the vertical occupied space. Conditioning only the vertical occupied space allows for significant energy savings.

Radiant Floor Cooling

Radiant in-floor cooling helps to offset the amount of solar heat gained through the glass curtain wall. The advantage to this approach is that piping in the floor slab can also be used for heating.

Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant in-floor heating is used for floor areas in large open spaces as well as areas with an expanse of glazing, such as the arrivals and departures halls and passenger holding rooms. In many cases, the radiant floor heating system is sufficient to handle all heating needs.

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport Winnipeg Richardson International Airport LEEDing the way as First Canadian Airport Terminal to Achieve LEED® Certification

LIGHTING

The ATB combines daylighting and artificial lighting to improve user comfort and lower operating costs. With sustainability and maintainability in mind, WAA selected energy efficient lighting products. Metal halide lamps are used in some of the large public areas of the facility including the Arrivals/Departures Hall, pre-screening/security and passenger hold rooms. Accent lighting along the main pedestrian walkways includes low-wattage, long-life products. LED and metal halide lighting is used in the Baggage Claim area. Automated controls such as occupancy sensors and daylight sensors are used to further increase energy savings.

CoMMISSIoNING

Enhanced commissioning was pursued to help ensure the building is fully functional, and meets the design specifications for the heating and cooling systems, the building automation and temperature controls, the lighting control systems and hot water heating systems. Staff have been trained to optimally operate, maintain and replace the commissioned features and systems.

ENvELoPE CoMMISSIoNING

WAA commissioned the building envelope to help ensure durability, acoustical performance, thermal performance, structural performance, reliability, and to prevent water intrusion and air leakage. Confirmation of the envelope performance contributes holistically to the overall energy performance of the building.

INDooR AIR QUALITY

WAA uses pre-filter and high-efficiency electrostatic media filtration (more than 95% efficient or MERV 15) to reduce potential odours and particulate matter, without using chemical or absorptive air filters. The CaGBC’s acceptance of the electrostatic filter media in the ATB was a first in Canada.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other indoor air quality sensors help to monitor the air quality and ensure that the appropriate amount of outdoor air is supplied to the building to suit its occupancy and use. During times of lower occupancy, the amount of outdoor air supplied to the building and the related energy use, can be reduced. Building air pressure sensors also ensure that appropriate amounts of outdoor air are provided to control infiltration into the building.

To maintain indoor dehumidification in the summer, all of the outdoor air in the air-handling units passes over cooling coils that control the dehumidification. In humidity control critical areas (such as areas with radiant cooling), supply air systems include an additional bypass of return air (with air filter) around the cooling coil so that the moderate supply air temperature is maintained while still dehumidifying.

The building flooring, carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives, and composite materials include low VOC materials. Low-VOC materials not only improve indoor air quality but also reduce demand on the HVAC system. LEED requirements for low emitting materials were also extended into the tenant leases.

INNovATIoN

Green Cleaning

A Green Cleaning contract was signed with a janitorial service that incorporates a green cleaning program which includes products and equipment. The program helps to ensure that indoor air quality is maintained and reduces the exposure of building occupants and maintenance staff to harmful contaminants and particulate matter.

Educational Outreach

A LEED educational outreach program was established to inform visitors about the sustainable features of the ATB. The program includes tours, literature and information posted on the WAA website: http://www.waa.ca/waa/environment/.

Emissions Reduction Strategy (Groundside/Airside)

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport received an Innovation in Design Credit for its Emission Reduction Implementation Plan.

In 2010, WAA contracted RWDI Air to compile an Emissions Inventory based on information collected in 2008. This became a governing document to reduce GHG emissions at the airport. In addition, the Emissions Inventory supported the Innovation in Design credit by setting a comparative emissions baseline prior to the construction and operation of the ATB.

As part of the Emissions Inventory deliverables, 37 emissions reduction opportunities were identified by RWDI. WAA has implemented nine of the 27 initiatives. It was estimated that the implementation of the nine initiatives would result in a reduction of 18,373 (tonnes CO2e) of GHG per year of the 2008 total of 56,581 (tonnes CO2e) GHG emissions for Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.

WAA has also implemented several initiatives that were not identified in the RWDI report. These initiatives include:

• Constructing high-speed taxi-way fillets and new taxi-ways; • Reduction of aircraft auxiliary power unit runtime by providing pre-conditioned air at the bridges; • Vehicle No-Idling policy for WAA employees; • Ground support equipment emissions testing program; • Construction of an electric charging station for a fully electric-powered public transit bus; • 70% of airport taxi cabs are hybrid vehicles; and • Secure covered bicycle storage area for employees.

WAA is committed to ongoing energy management to optimize performance for future years, in addition to conducting regular emissions inventories.

The Airport Terminal Building is almost a 1/2 kilometer long at 458 meters and comprised of complex building systems and central energy plant that powers the Airport Terminal Building and Campus. These systems were fully commissioned to ensure the building performs as designed and that takes time. The CaGBC requires all documentation to be complete prior to submission of the project. The final Commissioning Report for the ATB was completed in August 2014 and LEED certification was awarded in January 2015.

WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Airports Authority and Stantec Architecture proudly announce that the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is the first airport terminal in Canada to become LEED certified. The airport achieved LEED Silver certification, which is beyond the category initially targeted. Looking beyond Canada, Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is one of only 17 terminals in North America, and one of only 24 terminals worldwide to receive LEED certification for new construction.

“Attaining external validation of our commitment to the principles of sustainable development is truly exciting,” said Barry Rempel, President and CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority. “Working closely with Stantec, our teams delivered a beautiful, functional facility that minimized its carbon footprint. It’s something that I believe our community will be able to take pride in for years to come.”

“I am proud that our team, working creatively with the Winnipeg Airports Authority, has delivered a spectacular terminal that has been the very first in Canada to be LEED certified, and LEED Silver at that!” said Stanis Smith, Executive Vice President, Buildings at Stantec Architecture. “The building meets the needs and expectations of 21st century air travellers, based on the LEED energy model, it is estimated that the building would achieve a total GHG reduction of over 5,000 tonnes per year when compared to code, equivalent to taking over 1,000 cars off the road for 1 year.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system that is recognized as the international mark of excellence for green building in 150 countries. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

ABoUT WAA

Winnipeg Airports Authority is a non-share capital corporation responsible for the management and operation of Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, a full-service airport providing passengers and cargo clients access to markets across Canada, the United States, Mexico and the world. Located at the geographic centre of North America, with round-the-clock operations, Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is the number one dedicated freighter airport in Canada as measured by the number of flights. The airport generates over $3.6 billion in total economic output and welcomes over 3.67 million passengers annually.