Go green airports! Oslo Airport termed as world’s greenest airport

Norway, January 10: When you think of green you bound to think that it will be ultimately connected to something which is renewable and eco-friendly. Have you heard about green airports?

 

While aviation manufacturers are looking for greener ways to fly, from electric planes to biofuels, architects are aiming to make airports more environmentally friendly. Oslo in Norway adds up a new expansion to the city’s existing airport provides another, more sustainable way of designing these structures. It becomes the world's greenest airport.

It is the first to create a green airport with using thermal heating system. During summer it uses the stored cold snow. The airport is structured using ecofriendly materials. The airport draws in as much as solar energy and light as possible. It uses locally structured stones and wood from sustainable forest. The focus was on gaining innovative energy solutions and waste management.

The architects relied on a holistic approach to minimize the carbon footprint. Not only do the terminal's walls and windows aim to make maximum use of daylight which is quite a challenge in the Scandinavian winter.

At first glance, it looks like a major challenge. After all, airports are mass transportation nodes that consume lots of energy. However a combination of engineering smarts and the determination of some airport operators can go a long way.

While we wait for the era of electric planes, right now it seems that the key to greener airports isn't in a single game-changing innovation, but in the accumulation of small positive changes around the world.