Spotlight on Lambert International Airport
Lambert Airport was the recipient of the Governor’s Leader in Energy Award and is now the spotlight of the month for Missouri’s Division of Energy.
Lambert International Airport is being recognized not only for its long-standing contribution and leadership but also for its ability to collaborate and cooperation with other entities to accomplish their long-term commitment to continually increase the use of clean energy, invest in alternative fuels, and waste reduction. Since the 1980s, Lambert Airport has been developing and participating in innovative, creative, economic, and environmental initiatives targeted at achieving sustainability goals in energy efficiency, alternative and renewable fuels use and landfill diversion. The airport has achieved a reduction of over 8.1 million kWh of electricity demand per year, powers over 70% of its fleet vehicles on alternative fuels including CNG and biodiesel, reduced its water consumption, uses bio-based deicing fluid that is more cost effective and more environmentally friendly and had diverted over 350,000 tons of solid waste from area landfills in furtherance of the Mayor’s single-stream recycling initiative.
Lambert Airport partnerships include the Earthways Center, Ameren Missouri, Spire, and St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste District. Lambert International partnered with Ameren to conduct a comprehensive energy efficiency study installed more efficient lighting across the terminals, concourses, airfield, and parking garages. The airport also partnered with Spire (Laclede) to install 3 CNG fueling stations for the bus and vehicle fleet on-site including access to the public, utilizes bio-diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles, and established performance-based contracting and centralized waste and recycling collection system. Moreover, Lambert Airport partnered with the St Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste District to design and train terminal restaurants to participate in food waste composting. The airport began working with the Missouri Botanical Gardens to develop and implement a New Biodiversity Policy which included establishing a honey bee colony, enhancing the growth of more native flora, introducing more indoor natural lighting and outdoor landscaping, and cultivating its own perennial plantings on-site. In addition to all the efforts, St. Louis City and the airport have been engaged in community outreach, grants, events and trainings to share their lessons learned and best practices with other agencies, travelers, and the public-at-large.