Finding ways to reduce energy consumption at an airport is a challenge. For Houston Airports, one of the largest airport systems in the nation, it is a worthy and formidable one that is beginning to show promising results. 

To act responsibly to achieve social, environmental, and economic sustainability became one of the airports’ top strategic priorities in recent years. Since then, sustainability became a collaborative undertaking of most of the employee divisions within the airports and other partners. The most notable example of this is the award-winning Project 912.  

In May 2019, Houston Airports assembled a team and embarked on Project 912, Capital Improvement and Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project at Houston Airport System. The project was contracted through an interlocal agreement with Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) for the design, construction, and program implementation of State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), LoanStar-funded energy initiatives. 

In early 2022, ten major sustainability components of Project 912 were completed at George Bush Intercontinental, IAH, and William P. Hobby, HOU, Airports for which the CenterPoint Energy SCORE and CitySmart Program awarded Houston Airports the 2021 Energy Management Top Performer Award. 

The energy savings achieved by these projects have an estimated combined energy savings of over 1,500 kW per year, over 10 million kWh per year, and a projected financial savings of    $15 million over 15 years.  

“In this scenario, everyone wins” said Scott Hill, Director of Maintenance for Houston Airports and one of three Project Leaders for Project 912. “Limiting energy consumption and reducing costs for our airports is one aspect of Project 912, more importantly we are minimizing our environmental impact and making sure we have the right infrastructure in place to continue to grow and serve our passengers responsibly.” 

LED lighting and lighting control updates were completed at multiple locations at both airports, including HOU’s main terminal and Red garage, IAH’s terminal parking garages and inside IAH’s Terminal A. Additionally, there were hundreds of motor upgrades of the baggage handling systems at both airports. It was an extremely complex endeavor according to Eren Selcen, Interim City Engineer for Houston Airports and also a Project Leader for Project 912.  

“There were many facets and components within this project,” Selcen said. “Working at the confined areas in the baggage handling systems, the huge terminal complexes and parking garages, we relied on most of the Houston Airports’ divisions, from operations, terminal management to maintenance, parking and infrastructure, not to mention our visionary senior team. It truly was a collaborative effort to complete this vast multi-airport initiative.” 

Project 912 also included upgrades to the HOU chilled water system with the installation of four electric chillers, replacement of cooling towers, pumps, the control system, chilled water piping installation and other system component upgrades at the HOU Satellite Utility Plant. This upgrade allows for the primary chilled water supply to be relocated from the current central utility plant which is reaching the end of its service life. Finally, the installation of solar cells (PV) is an ongoing project at HOU’s parking garage roof. 

“We’re on a clear path to the right goal” said Bruce Hays, Energy Manager for Houston Airports and Project Leader for Project 912. “The City of Houston wants to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and the airports are doing their part. We should be energy resilient, and we will continue to work to stay ahead of the curve.” 

The total project budget is $28.3million with $15.5million being funded through SECO LoanSTAR funds. From March 2020 to February 2021, Project 912 resulted in an energy cost reduction of $2,184,958, a noteworthy savings.  

The energy cost reduction during this time frame is slightly askew as the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the airport occupancy, number of flights and concession activity. It is anticipated that when normal operations return the annual cost reductions will be aligned with the originally anticipated amount of approximately $1.3 million per year.  

Project 912, Capital Improvement and Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project at Houston Airport System contributors:  

Project Leaders: 

• Bruce Hays, Eren Selcen, Scott Hill 

• TEES (Bahman Yazdani, Lee Strickler, Gali Zilbershtein, Ahmet Ugursal and TEES sub-contractors, METCO Engineering and DFW Consulting Group) 

Major Project Contributors and Supporters: 

• Mario Diaz 

• Jarrett Simmons 

• Bob Barker (Retired) 

• Monty Nunn (Retired)  

• Devon Tiner 

• Liliana Rambo 

• Justina Mann 

• Infrastructure Division  

• Maintenance Division 

• Terminal Management Division 

• Supply Chain Management, Parking, Finance and various others, as this was an enterprise-wide accomplishment