Airports Going Green Awards

Airports Going Green brings together aviation leaders and innovators, providing national and international airport and airline perspectives on sustainability. This nomination form gives industry peers the opportunity to share why a project, program, or individual embraces and exemplifies sustainability leadership in the aviation industry. Nominees should demonstrate leadership, innovation, and enhancement of aviation sustainability ideals.

The winners were announced during the Introductory Session on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Congratulations to this year’s Airports Going GreenSM Award Winners!

2021 Airports Going Green® Award Recipients: 

Pioneer in Aviation Sustainability: Robert Horton, Vice President of Environmental Affairs & Sustainability, Dallas Fort Worth
Outstanding Sustainability Program: Introduction and Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, San Francisco International Airport
Outstanding Sustainability Infrastructure Development: San Francisco International Airport, SFO AirTrain Project • Allegheny County Airport Authority, PIT Microgrid at Pittsburgh International Airport • Dallas Fort Worth, Integrated Operations Center
Outstanding Tenant, Concession, or Vendor Program: US Supply House, Cracking the Plastic Code
 

2021 Honorable Mentions: 

Outstanding Individual Leadership: Dan Mann, Executive Director, Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Outstanding Sustainability Program: Philadelphia International Airport

Past Recipients

2020 Airports Going Green Award Recipients:

  • Pioneer in Aviation Sustainability: Bryan C. Wagoner, P.E., Director, Department of Environment and Sustainability, Wayne County Airport Authority  
  • Outstanding Sustainability Program: Indianapolis Airport Authority Sustainability Toolkit
  • Leadership in Development Practices for High Performance Buildings: Anthony Bernheim, Healthy & Resilient Buildings Program Manager, San Francisco International Airport
  • Leadership in Sustainability Enterprise Management: Brendan J. Reed, Director of Planning & Environmental Affairs, San Diego International Airport/San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

2019 Airports Going Green Award Recipients:

• Pioneer in Aviation Sustainability Award: Elizabeth Leavitt, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability, Port of Seattle
• Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel Trial at Van Nuys Airport, Los Angeles World Airports
• Green Cooling Tower Program, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Project, Greater Rochester International Airport
• Todd Cavender, Director, Environment & Sustainability, Indianapolis Airport Authority
• Flight for the Planet, United Airlines

2019 Honorable Mentions:

• Renewable Natural Gas Initiative, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport • Solar Power Plant, El Dorado International Airport, Bogota, Columbia • American Airlines, Hangar 2, Chicago O’Hare International Airport

2018 Airports Going Green Honorable Mention Recipients

View photo of Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Sustainable Water Quality Program at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
  • Conexao Escola “School Connection,” Rio de Janeiro International Airport, Brazil
  • Leadership of Jeff Daniels, Assistant Director Maintenance Operations, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
  • Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Mattress Recycling Program, Chicago, Illinois
  • Raptor Relocation Project, United Airlines
  • Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport Parking Structure Sustainability

2017 Airports Going Green Award Recipients

  • Sam Mehta - 2017 James M. Crites Aviation Sustainability Pioneer Award
  • Denver International Airport Hotel and Transit Center Project
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport/Wayne County Airport Authority Reconstruction of Runway 4L-22R and Associated Taxiways
  • Farmer's Fridge, Chicago O'Hare International Airport
  • John Kulikowski, Captain, United States Air Force Chief, Airfield Pavement Evaluation Team
  • London Gatwick Airport, Recycling and Renewable Energy Facility
  • Swedavia Airports, Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Fly Green Fund
  • Tampa International Airport, Be WELL Health and Wellness Campaign
  • Vancouver Airport Authority, Project Green YVR: Climate Smart Partnership

2017 Airports Going Green Award Honorable Mentions:

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sustainable Food Court Initiative
  • Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, Administration Building Renovation
  • Orlando International Airport Sustainability Initiatives, Under the Leadership of Judith-Ann Jarrette, Recycling Rangers; Airport Hyatt Regency Hotel
  • Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal F Baggage Claim Building
  • Port Authority of New York and Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport - TWA Flight Center Hotel Facility
  • JFKIAT, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 4 Sustainability Initiatives and Operations/Maintenance Practices
  • Rio de Janeiro International Airport, Organic Solid Waste Management
  • Sacramento International Airport, 7.9 MW PV Facility
  • San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Sustainability Initiatives, The Good Traveler Program; Green Concessions Program
  • Chicago Midway International Airport, Runway 13C-31C Rehab and EMAS Replacement
 

2016 Airports Going Green Award Winners

  • Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport & Sean Donohue, CEO The First North American Airport to Achieve ACI-ACA Carbon Neutral Certification (3+)
  • Copenhagen Airports Air Quality Program
  • HMS Host Food Donation Program
  • Hong Kong International Airport Carbon Measurement Program
  • Nashville International Airport & Christine Vitt, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Sustainability Geothermal Lake Plate Cooling
  • United Airlines Biofuels Program

2016 Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Colorado Department of Transportation: Statewide General Aviation Airport Sustainability Program
  • Jeffrey Daniels, Orlando International Airport: Individual Leadership
  • Houshang Esmaili, San Francisco International Airport: Individual Leadership
  • Flagstaff Airport: Sustainability Plan
  • Kent State University Airport: Sustainable Master Plan 
  • Montreal-Trudeau International Airport: Deicing fluid recovery, recycling and reuse facility
  • Napa Farms Market & San Francisco International Airport: Reusable Water Bottles
  • John Picard (John Picard & Associates): Individual Leadership
  • Lorenzo Lo Presti, CEO, Rome International Airport: Individual Leadership
  • G.V. Sanjay Reddy (Mumbai): Individual Leadership
  • Rio de Janeiro International Airport: Employee Sustainability Training Program
  • San Diego International Airport: Air Conditioning Condensate Sustainability Program
  • Tampa International Airport: Legacy of Environmental Actions for our Future (LEAF)
  • Vancouver International Airport: Waste Wars
  • O'Hare International Airport: South Air Traffic Control Tower Sustainability Initiatives

2015 Airports Going Green Award Winners

  • Leadership in Aviation Sustainability - Jim Hinde, Director, Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)
  • Boston Logan International Airport Conservation Mooring Program and Sustainability Initiatives (BOS)
  • Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport Solar Energy Generation Site and Parking Garage Maintenance (MSP)
  • Lakeland Linder Regional Airport Solar Farm, Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A. (LAL)
  • Hertz Rental Car, Living Journey Program
  • Southwest Airlines, Sustainability Initiatives

2015 Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Burlington International Airport House Removal, Material Recycling, and Site Restoration Program, Vermont, U.S.A. (BTV)
  • Gerald R. Ford International Airport Stormwater/Deicing Treatment, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A. (GRR)
  • General Mitchell International Airport Baggage Claim Building Remodel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. (MKE)
  • Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport Central Plant Project (IAH)
  • San Francisco International Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower and Integrated Facilities (SFO)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport Sustainability Management Plan (SLC)
  • Tampa International Airport LEAF Program (TPA)
  • South Bend International Airport Terminal Geothermal Conversion, Indiana, U.S.A. (SBN) 
  • The Grove Inc., Fresh Market On the Go (concessionaire) at Chicago O'Hare International Airport
  • Farmer's Fridge, Sustainable Kiosks (concessionaire)