Update on a Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System

Transcription

1 AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT ACRP Project 02-28: Sustainability Practices: Tools for Evaluating, Measuring, and Implementing Update on a Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System September 9, 2012

2 Overview of Session Overview of the Prototype Rating System Rating System Key Features Questions to be answered Do the design specifications make sense? What activity resource areas should be covered? How should sustainability performance be measured? Should the rating system be used? How should certification/verification be conducted? Discussion 2

3 ACRP Project Objective Develop decision tool for airports to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and select sustainability practices (now merged with the SAGA update) Develop a prototype sustainability rating system to help airports and their stakeholders gauge sustainability performance; and Evaluate the viability of implementing the rating system and an associated voluntary airport sustainability certification program 3

4 What s with the Remotes??? Anonymous voting Instant polling Interactive feedback 4

5 What is your favorite thing about autumn? 1. Leaf Peeping 2. Apple Cider and Donuts 3. Cooler Weather and Warm Sweaters 4. Back to School 5. Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

6 Who is in the Room? 1. Planner/Architect 2. Scientist 3. Engineer 4. Lawyer 5. Academic 6. IT Expert 7. Sales 8. Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

7 Where do you work? 1. Airport 2. Tenant 3. Government 4. Consultant 5. Academic Institution 6. Airport Industry Group 7. Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

8 Progress Update Conducted robust stakeholder outreach process Confirmed stakeholder preferences Identified prototype design specifications Developed structure of rating system Evaluation and Assessment Component Scoring Framework Back out to Stakeholders (Part Deux) Confirm Structure Consider Certification/Verification 8

9 Stakeholder Diversity Involved over 400 people, broadly representing the airport industry Over 100 airports represented 9

10 Overview of the Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System 10

11 What is a sustainability rating system? Assesses sustainability performance Rates performance over time Many different rating systems are available LEED, STARS, GRI, LSAG, CDA SAM, PANYNJ Framework for evaluating sustainability performance Meaningful comparisons over time Using a common set of measurements Creates incentives for continual improvement through recognition and scoring Helps to identify and shares best practices 11

12 Prototype Airport Sustainability Rating System Five Design Specifications A. Incorporate elements of existing rating systems to the extent possible B. Include a points-based scoring framework C. Adhere to the EONS sustainability framework (Economic Performance, Operational Efficiency, Natural Resource Conservation, and Social Responsibility) D. Recognize airport-wide sustainability performance (as opposed to a focus on individual airport projects) E. Emphasize flexibility to accommodate all airport types 12

13 Which design specifications do you most agree should be incorporated into the airport sustainability rating system? Choose your Top Incorporate elements of existing rating system 2. Include a points-based scoring framework 3. Adhere to the EONS sustainability framework 4. Recognize airport-wide sustainability performance 5. Emphasize flexibility to accommodate all airport types 6. Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

14 Prototype Rating System Structural Components Six Structural Components 1. Activity Category 2. Sustainability Activities 3. Performance Metrics and Actions 4. EONS Badges 5. IOM Classification 6. Spheres of Influence Design Specifications A. Incorporate elements of existing rating systems to the extent possible B. Include a points-based scoring framework C. Adhere to the EONS sustainability framework D. Recognize airport-wide sustainability performance F l e x i b i l i t y 14

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16 1. Activity Category Broad organizational levels that group Sustainability Activities of a similar sustainability theme Highlight the high-level elements of performance Organize activities into manageable groups with similar objectives Developed using information from existing rating systems Example Activity Category Waste Management Waste Diversion Waste Reduction 16

17 2. Sustainability Activities High-level undertakings that have a strong potential to improve the sustainability of an airport Facilitates flexibility, allowing an airport to choose how best to achieve a high level of sustainability performance Developed using information from existing rating systems Example Sustainability Activities Waste Management Waste Diversion Waste Reduction 17

18 Prototype Activity Categories and Sustainability Activities Impervious Surface Sources Number of 47 Sustainability Activities Informed by Each Existing Rating System 18 18

19 13 Draft Activities Categories Climate Change Community Engagement Design & Construction Economic Benefits Energy Management Human Environments Ground Transportation Leadership in Sustainability Sustainable Procurement Landscape and Grounds Waste Management Water Management Human Resources 19

20 What do you think of the Draft Activity Categories? The Activity Categories are comprehensive Too many Activity Categories Too few Activity Categories Specific Activity Categories are missing Undecided 20

21 13 Draft Activities Categories Climate Change Community Engagement Design & Construction Economic Benefits Energy Management Human Environments Ground Transportation Leadership in Sustainability Sustainable Procurement Landscape and Grounds Waste Management Water Management Human Resources 21

22 What do you think of the Draft Activity Categories? 1. The Activity Categories are comprehensive 2. Too many Activity Categories 3. Too few Activity Categories 4. Specific Activity Categories are missing 5. Undecided 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

23 3. Measuring Performance Evaluation Types Performance Metric Single, broad performance indicators allow airports to measure/track performance over time Performance Action Sets of actions that collectively serve as indicators of sustainability performance Waste Diversion - % of total solid waste diverted from a landfill Sustainable Design - % of total buildings space that achieves green certification (e.g., LEED). Renewable Energy - %of total annual building energy consumption coming from a renewable energy source. Airport Noise - Install physical noise barriers between the airport property and adjacent properties Airport Noise - Develop a noise exposure map and identify incompatible land use areas. Airport Noise - Implement a noise abatement plan. 23

24 Which of the following should be used to evaluate sustainability performance: metrics, actions, or both? 1. Performance metrics only 2. Performance actions only 3. Both Performance actions and metrics 4. Undecided 0% 0% 0% 0%

25 4. EONS Badge Four symbols one for each aspect of the EONS framework assigned to each Sustainability Activity Demonstrates how the Prototype Rating System applies and embodies the holistic approach of EONS Waste Management Waste Diversion Waste Reduction E N O 25

26 5. IOM Classification A comprehensive categorization that associates Performance Actions and Recommendations with airport Infrastructure, Operations, or Management Supports the airport-wide application of the Prototype Rating System Infrastructure Includes all airport assets - terminals, runways, control towers, parking lots, hangars, vehicles, utilities, etc. Operations Describes the implementation of management decisions and how infrastructure is used to enhance sustainability Management Describes how an airport is administered Directs and connects the sustainability of both infrastructure and operations 26 26

27 6. Spheres of Influence Classification that associates Sustainability Activities and Performance Actions with an airport s direct control, indirect control, or influence Supports airport-wide application of the Prototype Rating System Example for Airport Noise Management Implement a noise abatement plan Establish a working group that engages airlines on noise issues III Sphere III identifier 27

28 The rating system acknowledges the sustainability activities and performance actions within an airport s direct control. Should it also consider: 1. Indirect control, tenants actions for example 2. Influence, passengers behaviors for example 3. Both indirect control and influence 4. Neither indirect control nor influence 5. Undecided 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

29 The Prototype Scoring Framework The Prototype Rating System documents the sustainability performance of the airport. The next step will be for airports to assess how well they re doing over time and, if desired, relative to other airports. Doing so requires a scoring framework. 29

30 Scoring Framework Development Reviewed existing rating systems Assessed how each awarded points for activities and how those points would sum to an overall sustainability rating Many existing rating systems use one or both of the following scoring frameworks: An increasing number of points are awarded as performance increases relative to a metric (usually using percentage-based measures) Single points (or small set of points) are awarded for completing a specific action 30

31 Scoring Framework Features Example Performance Table Performance Level Basic Improved Enhanced Superior Performance Threshold 30% 45% 60% 75% Points

32 Scoring Mechanism Airports score points for achieving levels of performance within each Sustainability Activity Points earned are summed, divided by the total points possible, and multiplied by 100 to determine a percentbased overall score 32

33 In addition to calculating a Total Overall Score, would it be beneficial to score at the Activity Category level? 1. Yes 2. No 3. Undecided For example, Waste Management would receive a score at the Activity Category which rolls up to the Total Overall Score with our Activity Category scores. 0% 0% 0%

34 Rating Levels Once an airport has determined its Overall Score, it can use it to determine a rating An overall score falls within a rating tier that indicates the minimum number of points required to reach a rating level Example Rating Levels and Tiers: Rating Level Tier Threshold * Platinum 85% Gold 65% Silver 45% Bronze 25% * Rating level types and tier thresholds are for illustration purposes only. 34

35 Pros and Cons of Rating System Use - Internal Tracking Only Pros Encourages improvement in internal performance Ensures apples to apples comparisons Allows for a customized approach to the rating system/improvements based on available resources Cons Comparison may be inevitable if many airports are using the system for internal purposes Less PR potential Limited outside incentives to perform More difficult for unified input for improving the rating system 35

36 Pros and Cons of Rating System Use - Comparison to Others Pros Enables understanding of performance relative to peers Utilizes competition to drive improvement Provides foundation for information sharing PR potential Better potential for improvements to the rating system Cons Potential for points chasing/gaming Variation between airports may not allow for apples to apples comparisons Cost for third party reviews Concern about becoming a requirement 36

37 How should the rating system be used? 1. Internal tracking only 2. Internal tracking and comparison to other airports 3. Undecided 0% 0% 0%

38 Certification Certification - an entity certifies that the airport meets the requirements necessary to achieve a rating level Three methods: First Party: Internal determination by same staff who are responsible for determining the rating level Second Party: Internal determination by staff other than those who are responsible for determining the rating level Third Party: External determination by an entity that is not affiliated with the airport 38

39 What type of certification system is most appropriate for the rating system? 1. First party 2. Second party 3. Third party 4. Undecided 0% 0% 0% 0%

40 Verification Verification - an entity reviews the rating level and verifies the determination Two methods: Second Party: Verification of rating determination by individuals at least one step removed Third Party: Verification of the rating determination by an independent organization not affiliated with the airport and which is free from a real or potential conflict of interest 40

41 What type of verification system is most appropriate for the rating system? 1. Second party 2. Third party 3. Undecided 0% 0% 0%

42 Discussion Would the rating system be useful to you at your airport? Would the rating system help improve sustainability at your airport? Would the rating system help show how sustainability applies to your work? General Comments Contact Information Carol Lurie / VHB clurie@vhb.com PLEASE RETURN YOUR COMMENT CARDS 42