John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 4 has become the first terminal in the US to be certified as LEED Platinum under the Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance category.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programme was launched in 2000 by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). It is now the most widely used green-building rating system in the US.
Terminal 4 received this certification with help of CodeGreen, which provided energy and sustainability consulting throughout the process.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said:Congratulations to Terminal 4 operator JFKIAT for successfully earning LEED Platinum certification, in keeping with the Port Authority’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As we redevelop each of our region’s airports into world-class facilities, we should be no less ambitious in our drive to build sustainable facilities than we are to building those that deliver a truly inspiring customer experience. Once again, we are setting an important precedent for other airports around the country to follow.
JFK Terminal 4 is currently undergoing an ongoing 1.5 billion USD modernisation and expansion project, which incorporates a focus on sustainability.
Indeed, this LEED certification has been achieved under the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s commitment to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through a detailed strategy that includes facility-wide initiatives in electrification, renewable energy and sustainable buildings/energy efficiency.
Roel Huinink, President and CEO of JFKIAT said;As operators of the largest air terminal at JFK Airport, sustainability has always been a core component of JFKIAT’s mission, and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint across operations. Receiving LEED Platinum certification for Terminal 4 is a tremendous achievement and demonstrates how JFKIAT is truly a pioneer in sustainability.
We are proud of our team’s incredible work to innovate our operations to achieve this important milestone, and we look forward to expanding our initiatives to prioritise sustainability and provide the healthiest environment for our customers, employees, and business partners.
Terminal 4’s LEED Platinum certification follows the Port Authority’s LEED Gold certification for LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B last year.