View source for Engineering:YVR Sustainability

{{Infobox
 | name =
 | above      = YVR Sustainability
  |abovestyle = background:#cfc;
 | image = [[File:YVR Sustainability.JPG|300px]]
 | caption= A sign found by the YVR Canada Line Station
  | header1 = Overview of the Current Environmental Management Plan 
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
 |  label2 = Creators:      |   data2 = Vancouver Airport Authority
 |  label3 = Overseen by:      |   data3 = Vancouver Airport Authority's Environment Department
 |  label4 = Outlined Timeline:      |   data4 = 2009&ndash;2013
 |  label5 = Six Strategic Priorities:      |   data5 = To manage [[Engineering:Aircraft noise|aircraft noise]] while reducing [[Earth:Air pollution|emissions]] and [[Physics:Energy|energy]], as well as implement a communication, awareness, recognition and education (CARE) program, that continually improves other environmental programs<ref>YVR, ''2012 Full Annual and Sustainability Report'', 2012, http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Annual_report/2012_Full_Annual_and_Sustainability_Report.sflb.ashx, accessed 10 March 2014.</ref>
 |  label6 = Website:      |   data6 = http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx
}}

'''YVR Sustainability''' is an operations department at Vancouver International Airport that is concerned with airport green initiatives. Its focus is to expand the airport quality of YVR without harm to the environment or affecting the community in a negative way. It focuses on a variety of initiatives having to do with heating, transport, energy consumption, [[Physics:Recycling|recycling]] and [[Physics:Noise|noise]]. YVR's sustainability is also known for its green art linked to the [[Earth:Natural environment|environment]] and community and its indoor [[Earth:Nature|nature]] displays.

==YVR's sustainability projects==

===Energy Reduction Committee===
YVR's Vancouver Airport Services created an energy reduction committee in 1999 to create new energy-reducing initiatives. The YVR website describes these different initiatives such as "installing an econo-mode setting on baggage conveyor belts to shut down conveyors when no bags are present; installing [[Chemistry:Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide]] sensors to control heating, ventilation and air conditioning ([[Biology:HVAC|HVAC]]) according to the number of people in area; and patenting a black box to regulate electrical power to the flight information display monitors when no flights are scheduled." In 2005, the committee introduced "installation of low-energy Light Emitting Diodes ([[Engineering:LED|LED]]) lighting on several taxiways, installation of more efficient, brighter lighting on Levels 2 and 3 of the car parking structure, upgrades to the chilled water distribution system, and replacement of all Airport Authority computer equipment with newer, more efficient models."<ref>Airports Council International, ''Airport becomes power 'smarter' with solar panels'', April 2007, http://www.enviro.aero/Content/Upload/File/case%20study%20YVR.pdf, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> The building and lighting system are designed to utilize as much daylight as possible so that it is the primary lighting source.<ref>Nursall, K., ''YVR's green programs glide over airplane emissions'', 13 April 2012, http://thethunderbird.ca/2012/04/13/yvrs-green-programs-glide-over-airplane-emissions/, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> The Committee claims to have saved more than 24 [[Gigawatt|gigawatt]] hours of electricity and $5.5 million since the team's creation.<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>

=== Electrification of ground support equipment ===
In 2015, the airport set a goal for 50% of the [[Engineering:Ground support equipment|ground support equipment]] to run on electric power by the year 2020. This goal was achieved early, as by late 2019, 53% of these machines operated on electric power. The airport installed 50 charging stations to support this operation.<ref name=":0">YVR 2020-2024 Environmental Management Plan. Page 11. https://www.yvr.ca/-/media/yvr/documents/environment/2020/yvr-environmental-management-plan.pdf</ref>  

The airport also has a comprehensive fleet management plan, to ensure that  ground support equipment operators maintain and electrify the fleet of the right size. They also have eight [[Engineering:Battery electric bus|battery electric apron buses]] to support the operation of aircraft on remote stands separate from the terminal building.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Solar panel at YVR.JPG|thumb|left|Solar panel located in YVR rooftop parking lot]]

===Solar-powered hot water===
The solar-powered hot water systems were installed in the airport's Domestic and International terminals in 2003. The 100 solar panels were placed on the roof of the YVR building and will heat more than 800 gallons of water each hour.<ref>Young, E.X.,''Solar Power Heats Water for Canadian Airport,'' 9 October 2003, http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2003/10/solar-power-heats-water-for-canadian-airport-9708, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> This has resulted in approximately $110,000 and 8569 gigajoules saved each year.<ref>EcoWeek, ''Vancouver Airport installs BC's largest solar-powered hot water heating system'', 29 September 2003, http://www.ecoweek.ca/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000130828, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> The project was partly funded by BC Hydro working with the Vancouver International Airport Authority to reduce energy consumption and costs at YVR.<ref>Young, E.X.,''Solar Power Heats Water for Canadian Airport,'' 9 October 2003, http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2003/10/solar-power-heats-water-for-canadian-airport-9708, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> YVR also uses nightly energy set backs, carbon dioxide sensors, and improved scheduling and system tune-ups since 2001 which has led to a decrease of 25 per cent in [[Chemistry:Natural gas|natural gas]] usage.<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref><ref>Airports Council International, ''Airport becomes power 'smarter' with solar panels'', April 2007, http://www.enviro.aero/Content/Upload/File/case%20study%20YVR.pdf, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref>

[[File:Loading area for taxis at YVR.jpg|thumb|Loading area for taxis at YVR]]

===Taxi incentive program===
YVR has 100 hybrid and [[Chemistry:Natural gas|natural gas]]-operated taxis hired to pick up and drop off passengers. The Airport Authority created a program in 2004 that gave incentive for alternative fuel taxis and was successful by improving the average fleet fuel economy by 47% by 2009.<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>

[[File:Green wall close up at YVR.JPG|thumb|170px|left|Green wall close up at YVR]]

===Green wall===
In June 2009, YVR had a green wall installed by the Canada Line YVR–Airport Station and can best be viewed from the International Departures terminal on Level 3 and from the International Arrivals terminal on Level 2. This is the first Canadian airport with a living [[Engineering:Green wall|green wall]] and the largest in North America. The green wall measures "18-metres high and 12 -metres wide and is home to 28,249 individual plants on 2,173 panels and houses a built-in [[Earth:Irrigation|irrigation]] and feeding system."<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref> The plants it consists of are ''Euonymus japonicus microphyllus, Euonymus japonicus albovariegatus microphyllus, Polypodium glycyrrhiza'', and ''Ophiopogon japonicus nanus''.<ref>GSky, ''Vancouver Int'l Airport'', http://gsky.com/projects/vancouver-airport-2/, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> Benefits of a green wall on the building include improving air quality, reducing noise pollution (the green wall is located near the Sky Train), cooling the area down and saving on energy costs, and decreases carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. YVR includes other environmental indoor installations such as its indoor garden, aquarium, and a freshwater [[Earth:Stream|creek]].<ref>Nursall, K., ''YVR's green programs glide over airplane emissions'', 13 April 2012, http://thethunderbird.ca/2012/04/13/yvrs-green-programs-glide-over-airplane-emissions/, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref> The 30,000 gallon salt water aquarium at YVR is home to about 850 samples of British Columbia marine life. There is also a 750 gallon jelly fish tank and a 60-metre long fresh water creek located nearby.<ref>Martin, B., ''Salt-water aquarium does more than just look pretty '', 2 November 2007, http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id24974, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref>

=== YVR Fuel Project ===
The YVR Fuel project plans to build an underground [[Physics:Pipeline transport|pipeline]] and upgrade an airport fuel terminal near the Fraser River. In 2014, the YVR Fuel Project was granted approval with 64 conditions. An information bulletin posted by the Ministry of Environment of British Columbia announced that the project is "not expected to result in any significant adverse effects, based on the mitigation measures and conditions of the Environmental Assessment Certificate." Nonetheless, the YVR Airport Fuel Facilities will have to carry out the project in accordance to the conditions made by the Environmental Assessment Office. Key conditions deal with spill and fire prevention, preparedness and response, cleaning, inspection, dealing with pollution liabilities, [[Engineering:Environmental remediation|environmental remediation]], and compensating for Aboriginals loss under the Fisheries Act.<ref>The Government of British Columbia, ''YVR Fuel Delivery Project granted conditional environmental assessment approval,'' 12 December 2013, http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2013ENV0093-001875.htm, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>
Marine pilots will have to be specially trained for the river's environment, tankers double-hulled, pre-screened and each boat will have to have two tugs. The reason for the YVR fuel upgrade is because the Fuel Facilities Corp. states the current fuel-delivery system is not sustainable and too dependent on an older pipeline coming from Burnaby, British Columbia and shipments from Washington, USA. With its own fuel,  YVR will have more room and independence to welcome new flights and airlines.<ref>The Canadian Press, ''YVR Vancouver Airport Fuel Project Granted Conditional Approval,'' 12 December 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/yvr-vancouver-airport-fuel_n_4436141.html, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>

[[File:Canada Line at YVR.JPG|thumb|Canada Line at YVR]]

===Rapid transportation===

The SkyTrain system was expanded to the airport in 2009 through the opening of the Canada Line and YVR–Airport station.<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>

[[File:Recycling and trash bins at YVR.JPG|thumb|left|Recycling and trash bins at YVR]]

===Recycling===
YVR has 450 recycling containers evenly distributed and located around its terminals, divided for [[Physics:Plastic recycling|recycling plastic]] and paper. The containers themselves are made from recycled aluminum, steel and plastic and help recycle over 1,250,000 kg of material each year.<ref>YVR, ''Sustainability,'' 2001, http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/sustainability.aspx, accessed 4 March 2014.</ref>

=== Noise management ===
The Vancouver International Airport Security submitted a 2009 - 2013 Noise Management Plan to the Canadian Ministry of Transport in August 2013 which was reviewed and approved. This Management Plan included initiatives to help with noise complaints that YVR Security had received. A total of 16 initiatives were identified and are outlined in the Noise Management Plan. The plan is flexible and allows room for new community issues that may arise within the five-year program. The plan's main goal is to balance the needs of having 24-hour airport services while minimizing noise disturbances associated with aircraft services for those living nearby.<ref>Vancouver Airport Authority, ''2009&ndash;2013 Noise Management Plan for Vancouver International Airport'', 2 February 2009, http://www.delta.ca/assets/HRCP/PDF/YVR_2009-2013%20Noise%20Management%20Plan.pdf, accessed 9 March 2014.</ref>

==Other YVR facilities==
{{multiple images
| align     = center

| image1=Moving_walkway_at_YVR.jpg
| width1={{#expr: (135 * 902 / 581) round 0}} 
| alt1=Moving walkway at YVR

| image2=Trash_and_recycling_bins_at_YVR.JPG
| width2={{#expr: (135 * 3648 / 2736) round 0}} 
| alt2=Trash and recycling bins inside YVR

| image3=Canada_Line_Sign_at_YVR.jpg
| width3={{#expr: (135 * 3648 / 2736) round 0}} 
| alt3=Canada Line Sign at YVR

| image4=Light_fixtures_at_YVR.jpg
| width4={{#expr: (135 * 877 / 567) round 0}}
| alt4=Light fixtures at YVR

| image5=Escalator in YVR food court.JPG
| width5={{#expr: (135 * 2736 / 3648) round 0}}
| alt5=escalator in YVR food court

| image6=Green Wall at YVR.JPG
| width6={{#expr: (135 * 2736 / 3648) round 0}}
| alt6=Green wall at YVR

}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/Noise-management.aspx Vancouver International Airport's Noise Management]
* [http://sungoldsolar.us/ Flexible Solar Panel]

[[Category:Sustainable urban planning]]

{{Sourceattribution|YVR Sustainability}}