Table 5 : 2019 Natural Gas Consumption at Authority Airports
|
Current Natural Gas
Consumption Metrics ( Annual )
|
Dulles International |
Reagan National |
|
Total natural gas consumption
( therms )
|
3,720,311 |
1,518,722 |
Natural gas consumption per square foot ( therms ) |
0.66 |
0.74 |
Natural gas consumption per passenger ( therms ) |
0.15 |
0.06 |
Number of passengers ( millions ) |
24.8 |
23.9 |
Square footage ( millions ) |
5.6 |
2.1 |
The Authority ’ s current renewable energy portfolio consists of a 10-kilowatt ( kW ) solar installation at a DTR travel center facility and a new 10 kW PV system installed on the Transportation Network Companies ( TNC ) canopy at Dulles International . The TNC waiting area is where ride share companies such as Uber and Lyft park while waiting to pick up airport customers . As several renewable energy technologies are currently economically viable , we are partnering with our utility , Dominion Energy , to evaluate a possible large-scale solar farm at Dulles International and are studying the feasibility of solar and battery storage at Reagan National . Currently , Dominion Energy ’ s electricity mix includes 5 % renewable energy along with an additional 42 % of emissions-free nuclear energy . In 2019 , Dominion announced its target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 . As a result , over time , we expect our purchased electricity to become cleaner and less impactful to the environment as well .
Metrics to Measure Success
To track our progress in increasing the energy efficiency of our various built environments , the Authority intends to monitor our overall energy use at the airport level as well as on a per-passenger basis . In addition , as we continue to install more efficient lighting throughout our facilities , we will track the percentage of facilities with LED and other energy-efficient lighting systems with the goal of achieving and maintaining levels approaching 100 % energy-efficient lighting where feasible over time . Finally , if we add on-site renewable energy generation at our facilities , we will track progress in terms of installed generation capacity ( kW ). We will also monitor progress that Dominion Energy makes towards its emissions-free goals and incorporate that information into our sustainability reporting .
Existing Activities
The Authority has implemented many sustainable energy use initiatives that not only reduce electricity consumption but also save us money . Examples of some of these activities include the following :
Reagan National Central Utility Plant
The installation of a high efficiency chiller at the Reagan National ’ s central utility plant ( CUP ) saves more than 600,000 kWh and $ 38,000 per year . Reagan National also has access to thermal storage facilities where we can chill large quantities of water at night when electricity prices are lower . We then use this chilled water for daytime cooling purposes throughout our terminals and concourses . This thermal storage allows Reagan National to participate in demand response programs offered by our regional grid operator , PJM , resulting in economic benefits to us in the form of rebates .
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