Airports go for green with eco-friendly efforts

Green buildings.

Boston Logan has the first LEED-certified terminal in the USA, a recognition awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for constructions that follow its criteria of energy-saving measures. About 20% of the materials used to build Terminal A in 2001 were locally manufactured. It also features sensors that turn off lights at unoccupied gates, large and airy glass walls that reduce the need for lighting and heating, low-flush toilets and a roof that was painted in white to better reflect the sunlight.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is also in the midst of a restroom upgrade aimed at conserving water. It's installing new toilets that use 1.28 gallons of water per flush vs. 1.6 gallons used by the current units. It also recently completed refitting men's urinals to use just half a gallon per flush, compared with one gallon in previous models.

Airport authorities estimate the changes will save 44 million gallons of water a year, a reduction of 13% in airport water usage. They had considered waterless urinals, but found that they might not be popular with travelers. They smelled.