At John Wayne Airport, we’re not only committed to taking care of guests, but also protecting our planet. From our forthcoming zero emissions vehicles to our new fuel- efficient aircraft and energy-efficient lighting, we’re proud to be an industry leader in environmental best practices—with example after example of our commitment to sustainability.
Beginning October 2019, Delta Air Lines began flying the fuel-efficient, quieter Airbus A220-100 aircraft on its five daily nonstop flights between John Wayne Airport and Salt Lake City. The combination of increased fuel-efficiency, a quieter engine and a higher climb rate, achieving higher altitudes more quickly, is good news for JWA and Orange County residents.
We built a jet fuel pipeline and two 1.5-million gallon commercial jet fuel tanks. We now receive fuel once per week through an underground pipeline, which is transferred to the aircraft through the existing on-airport distribution system. The new process eliminates the over-the-road delivery of 300,000 gallons by 38 tanker trucks daily, which improves air quality and safety near the Airport.
In 2019, the Orange County Board of Supervisors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). We partnered with the SCAQMD on a voluntary emission reduction program as part of the regional Air Quality Management Plan.
We diverted more than 90 percent of our waste, including recycling of construction demolition debris and paper and toner cartridges, turning cooking oil and grease into biofuel, donating more than 8 tons of surplus food to local food banks, composting more than 70 tons of food waste, and segregating waste in our Terminals for recycling.
We eliminated a significant number of printed reports required by current operating agreements and other tenant lease agreements accessible through electronic means, thereby reducing handling, processing, and storage costs.
In collaboration with CEO Risk Management and OC Information Technology, we implemented an innovative recordkeeping system to manage risk and safety compliance. The new electronic system, OC Safety, enables the Airport to better track employee safety training, keep consistent and efficient safety records, and make faster determinations of compliance status.
We’ll upgrade the Central Utility Plant (CUP) capability to automatically re-start the generators and resume power after a planned or unplanned power disruption or outage. In addition, we’ll use an Edison Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) to augment the CUP with solar power and electric power storage batteries to avoid spikes in energy demands.
We will install new water conservation technology at the CUP that reduces water usage. Water used to cool the machinery is the largest source of water use at the Airport. The new system removes the minerals, extending the use of the water and saving approximately two million gallons a year.
By replacing the lower roadway lighting with bulbs or units that are brighter, whiter and more energy and cost-efficient, we’ll use less energy than traditional lights, extend their useful life, and save money.
We will implement liquid waste collection stations at all security check-points. A successful three-month pilot study collected more than eight tons of liquid, improving the quality of recyclables and reducing weight of trash, and in conjunction with our filtered water refill stations, cuts down on water bottle waste.
