Vancouver Airport and solar panels

Vancouver Airport is managed and operated by the Vancouver Airport Authority. It is Canada’s second busiest airport.

Did you know?

• Green building means constructing and maintaining a building that is efficient and sustainable. Examples of green building guidelines are the US’ LEED green building rating system and the EU’s Directive on the energy performance of buildings.
• One example of a green building technique is the use of solar powered hot water heating systems.

What are we doing?

• Vancouver Airport Authority has installed a solar powered hot water heating system.
• The 100 solar panels on the roof of the domestic terminal building help to heat an average of 800 gallons of hot water each hour.

What is the result?

• The solar-powered hot water heating system, along with the implementation of night-time set-backs, CO₂ sensors, and improved scheduling and system tune-ups, has led to a decrease of nearly 30% in natural gas use in the airport’s domestic terminal since 2001. 
• The airport has estimated the project contributes to savings of nearly $90,000 and 8,569 gigajoules of electricity per year, and a proportional reduction in emissions.
• The case study has more information.