Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) is poised to become the country’s first airport to completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all airport-controlled operations thanks to a pilot program that recently entered its second phase.
The airport is about to embark on over 25 energy conservation measures to help it get closer to neutralizing the nearly 1,000 metric tons of carbon emissions it emits annually. The measures are enabled by Phase One projects that included data collection, inventory, and a comprehensive energy audit by an Energy Service Company (ESCO) to identify savings opportunities. Phase Two will include:
- Arrays of solar PV panels generating 1.5-2.1 MW
- Indoor and outdoor LED lighting
- Retrocommissioning of major mechanical systems, including energy recovery ventilators
- Building envelope improvements
- Solar thermal development for hot water heating
- An integrated building management platform
- Infrared garage heating
- Boiler burner replacements
The pilot program took off in October 2012. It has received $805,000 in MassDOT Aeronautics funding and expects to receive additional funding from local and federal sources.
