The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced today that Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most widely used green-building rating system in the world and an international symbol of environmental responsibility.
“The LEED Gold designation exemplifies the agency’s commitment to environmental sustainability and being a good neighbor,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “By establishing rigorous building standards and adopting aggressive measures to reduce our carbon footprint, we are creating a healthier environment and striving to improve the quality of life for those in the region we serve.”
“As the Port Authority drives $30 billion in airport redevelopment projects, we are ensuring that we take a sustainable, resilient and equitable approach to the planning, design and construction of our facilities,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. "We all have a role to play to tackle the existential threat of climate change, and this certification shows the Port Authority is committed to be in the front rank of sustainability initiatives.”
The USGBC’s LEED certification is in use worldwide, recognizing buildings, homes, and neighborhoods that prioritize environmental sustainability through their design, construction and operation. Following stringent requirements, Newark Liberty’s Terminal A met specific sustainability benchmarks for energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection and waste reduction.
The terminal’s LEED certification comes just after the Port Authority unveiled its Net-Zero Roadmap, a comprehensive agencywide plan comprised of more than 40 concrete actions that will guide the agency’s efforts in meeting its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as interim goals of a 35 percent reduction in direct emissions by 2025, and a 50 percent reduction by 2030.
The 1 million-square-foot Terminal A features a variety of sustainable design elements, including the largest solar rooftop installation at any U.S. airport atop the terminal’s parking deck, new electric buses to support shuttle operations, water-efficient fixtures reducing potable water demand by more than 45 percent, a cool roof designed to reflect sunlight, absorbing less solar energy and reducing the heat gain on the building, and energy-efficient indoor lighting and controls. In achieving LEED Gold, the project meets the Port Authority’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing annual energy costs by an estimated 30 percent.
Newark Liberty is also providing charging and electrical infrastructure to enable airlines’ transition to electric ground-support equipment (GSE) across the terminal. The agency’s 2022 Zero Emission Airside Vehicle Rule mandates the conversion of all GSE to electric models by 2030 where commercially available.
In accordance with Port Authority’s climate resilience design guidelines, Terminal A was also designed to withstand today’s 100-year flood projections plus projected future sea level rise. By completing the LEED Gold certification, the facility also satisfies compliance with the Port Authority’s sustainable building guidelines, which align with the LEED rating system.
