Environment
Energy & climate change
Melbourne Airport requires a considerable amount of energy to operate the facility. Recently a number of energy audits have been conducted to identify energy-intensive activities and subsequent energy efficiency opportunities. Examples of where energy consumption has been reduced at Melbourne Airport include:
Melbourne Airports’ IT Department
The IT Department at Melbourne Airport has developed environmental guidelines for the purchase of electrical equipment. Prior to purchase, equipment is assessed for the manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability, minimal resource consumption, and an end-of-life policy that enables Melbourne Airport to return the equipment for reuse or recycling.
Skycool Paint Case Study
After a successful trial proving Skycool Paint’s ability to reflect the heat from the sun; it was applied to the roofs of T2 and T3 as an initiative to reduce the cooling costs of the Melbourne Airport terminals. The water-based acrylic paint works by having a high reflectivity therefore reducing the amount of solar energy (heat) being absorbed by Airport buildings. As less heat is absorbed into the terminals there is a reduced demand for air-conditioning, resulting in a reduction of cooling costs by 30%.