Environmental Sustainability During Airport Construction
Over the next 5 years, the Port of Portland is leading a series of transformative projects at the Portland International Airport called PDX Next. This work will bring more Pacific Northwest-inspired architecture, local restaurants and shops, inclusive design, and carbon footprint-reducing technology to PDX.
We plan to achieve LEED Gold certification on our main terminal design project and new rental car center. We’ve also developed several project-specific goals that go beyond LEED requirements. This work aims to help the Port achieve our goal to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2025 (compared to 1990 levels).
Here are some of the specific ways PDX Next supports our environmental sustainability goals:
- Our goal is to use 50% less energy per square foot as we nearly double the size of PDX.
- We’re building a ground source system, which will drastically reduce demand for fossil fuel-based heating and cooling.
- We’re also bringing in more natural light, using more efficient lighting, and making improvements to our air distribution and heat recovery systems.
- For the next 20 years, PDX has committed to support solar development in Oregon through the state-wide Community Solar Program. Starting in 2023, the port will purchase solar power for approximately 15% of the electricity used at PDX as of 2022.
| Rental Car Center Project Details | |
| RATING SYSTEM | LEED v4 BD+C: NC |
| GROSS FLOOR AREA | 88,962 square feet |
| REGISTRATION DATE | May 6, 2020 |
| START DATE | January 1, 2020 |
| ANTICIPATED END DATE | June 30, 2023 |
| STATUS | Registered |
| New Main Terminal Project Details | |
| RATING SYSTEM | LEED v4 BD+C: NC |
| GROSS FLOOR AREA | 982,826 square feet |
| REGISTRATION DATE | July 22, 2020 |
| START DATE | January 1, 2020 |
| ANTICIPATED END DATE | December 31, 2025 |
| STATUS | Registered |
Where We’ve Been
These efforts build on two decades of work to mitigate the effects of climate change and the region’s greatest air toxics health risks. Here’s what the Port has accomplished:
- 1990’s: Transitioned PDX shuttle buses from diesel to cleaner compressed natural gas
- 2010 - 2020: Purchased 100% renewable electricity Port-wide to help encourage development of renewable energy infrastructure
- 2011: Reduced diesel particulate emissions by more than 75% for operations that we manage and control through replacing, repowering and retrofitting equipment.
- 2017: Reached our goal of reducing Port greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70%, as compared to 1990 levels through a combination of reductions and the purchase of renewable clean energy.
- 2018: PDX completed installation of systems that provide cool/warm air and electricity to aircraft, allowing planes to shut down their engines and eliminate emissions while at the jet bridge.
- 2020: Set a net-zero carbon goal for Port-wide operations by 2050.
- 2020: Switched to renewable diesel for Port-owned equipment and vehicles at PDX and transitioned at Marine facilities in 2022.
- 2021: Switched PDX shuttle buses to renewable natural gas
- 2022: Began participating in The Clean Air Construction Program, a collaboration among local public agencies to reduce diesel emissions on their construction projects.