The Sustainability Project at Miami International Airport will provide the airport with more than $40 million in savings over the 14-year contract.
JUNO BEACH, FLA. – FPL Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida Power & Light (FPL), announced an energy conservation project that will save Miami International Airport more than $40 million in energy and water over the next 14 years. The Sustainability Project at MIA is part of a large-scale energy and water conservation effort contracted to FPL Services by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD).
The Sustainability Project at MIA is one of the largest energy performance contracts ever undertaken in Florida. This $32 million project includes the installation of energy-efficient lighting, water conservation retrofits, air-conditioning and ventilation upgrades and other innovative solutions to optimize energy management with new technologies in airport energy efficiency. The airport’s ultimate goal is to enhance public safety and thermal comfort for passengers and employees, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of the facility, all while reducing the airport’s overall operational costs.
This project continues to position Miami International Airport as a global leader in airport sustainability and support the county’s GreenPrint initiative, a community-wide sustainability goal to use less water and energy. The savings are the equivalent of the annual carbon emissions of 5,110 automobiles and 28 million gallons of water (or 43 Olympic-size swimming pools).
Energy Savings: FPL Services’ solutions will save the airport 17 million kilowatts of energy each year. Miami International Airport will reduce operational costs and streamline maintenance by eliminating 400 types of lighting fixtures through upgrades and standardization throughout the airport and replacing more than 65,000 light bulbs with new energy efficient ones.
Water consumption: The changes that FPL Services is making throughout the airport will save up to 28 million gallons of water each year.
FPL Services guarantees electricity and water consumption savings of more than $2.2 million annually, while also achieving additional savings in maintenance. The project, which is funded by third-party financing, will be completely offset with the budgetary savings throughout the 14-year project.
“Miami International Airport is a major economic engine for our community and one of the busiest consumer and commercial freight airports in the nation,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “Our continued dedication in making MIA one of the leading green airports in the nation by reducing our greenhouse gases and carbon footprint is also very good news for our community, our environment and our economy. The implementation of FPL Services’ program will create more than 300 new jobs during this project.”
“As one of the largest energy consumers in Miami-Dade County, we are pursuing conservation measures like The Sustainability Project to be its most efficient consumer as well,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “In addition to protecting our environment, being an energy-smart airport is smart business as well. The $40 million in savings will help us to better manage our operating costs, savings that are passed on to current and prospective airlines, which in turn supports our traffic growth. I applaud Assistant Aviation Director Carlos Jose and our Facilities Management and Engineering Division for working with FPL Services to develop and implement this innovative program.”
“With over 25 years committed to preserving, protecting and enhancing the environment, FPL Services provides industry-leading energy expertise, operational discipline and innovative solutions and technologies to our customers,” said Alex Acosta of FPL Services. “Our innovative and customized sustainability program designed for Miami International Airport’s continued commitment to green initiatives through energy conservation and reduction of water consumption will help elevate the airport’s environmental record as well as its leadership in the aviation industry.”
Over the past 11 years, FPL Services has partnered with MDAD and the Miami-Dade County Internal Services Department (ISD) to complete major conservation and facility improvement projects at MIA, making Florida’s busiest airport one of the most energy efficient and cost-effective in the U.S.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
