Changi Airport Group sets Environmental Targets, Brings Changi Tree to Airport
Posted on November 9, 2010 by derek
SINGAPORE, 9 November 2010 (via Media Bulletin) – Singapore Changi Airport aims to reduce consumption of electricity and use more of recycled water at its terminal buildings over the next three years, as part of its contribution towards environmental sustainability.
As part of Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) plan to set up an Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001 standards, CAG has established a set of targets to cut energy use and to increase the proportion of recycled water used at Changi. This was announced at the launch of CAG’s ‘Changi Goes Green’ environment roadshow on 8 November 2010, in conjunction with Clean and Green Singapore.
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Energy Conservation
Various initiatives have been implemented, including dimming lights at airport terminals by as much as 50%during off-peak hours, using natural lighting where possible, and installing motion sensors in areas such as toilets and offices to conserve electricity.
Due to its round the clock operations, Changi Airport’s terminal buildings consumes 450 Million kWh of electricity annually. They have targetted to reduce this usage by 13.5 million kWh (3%), generating savings of about S$2.4 million over the next 3 years.
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Recycling Water
Currently, already less than half of Changi Airport’s water usage comes from potable sources. Recycled water from rainwater is used for irrigating plants at Changi Airport’s nursery and external landscape areas, while NEWater is used for airport fire-fighting, sanitation and cooling of air conditioning chillers. Other efforts to conserve water include the installation of tap flow regulators in all toilet taps in the airport, which limit water flow from six litres per minute to two litres per minute.
CAG will continue to explore ways to utilise recycled water, and intends to increase the proportion of recycled water usage from 55% to 58% over the next 3 years.
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CAG also intends to attain BCA Green Mark Gold for Terminal 2, as well as SEC’s Eco-Office Certification by 2011.
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Planting of Changi Tree
The Changi Tree (or Hopea Sangal) was thought to be extinct in Singapore until its re-discovery in September 2002 when a 150 year old specimen was felled illegally.
To continue the conservation efforts by National Parks and the Nature Society, and in recognition of its heritage, CAG’s management and staff have planted saplings of the Changi tree in the airport grounds as part of the ‘Changi Goes Green’ programme. The trees will serve as a symbol of CAG’s commitment to environmental sustainability into the future.
