Heritage Aviation: Investing in a Green Future

Things are looking “up” for Heritage Aviation. In fact, Heritage Aviation is the first general aviation facility in United States to include renewable energy.

Three Sustainable Features for Heritage Aviation

An on-site wind turbine has been installed at the new General Aviation Facility, Heritage Aviation, located at the Burlington International Airport in Vermont. The installation makes it the first on-site wind turbine of its size at a U.S. airport.

The 100 foot-wind turbine tower, a Northwind 100, is manufactured by Vermont-based Northern Power Systems.  The 100kW turbine has a direct-drive system with few moving parts and also works well in low wind-speed conditions.

A solar hot water system and a 25kW solar electric system have also been installed.  The PV solar electric system includes 120 Evergreen 210 watt solar panels located on the roof of the office building. The three sustainable features are expected to offset over $14,000 in energy costs annually. Alteris Renewables installed all of the systems.

Heritage Aviation Facility

The state-of-the-art, 79,000 square foot facility, expected to be complete in 2010, includes a movie theater, a rooftop observation deck with spectacular views, a pilot lounge, fitness center and “snooze rooms.” The facility also offers free coffee and Wi-Fi too!

The entire facility was designed to be environmentally friendly from top-to-bottom. The facility will be one of the very first LEED-certified hangars in the United States. Heritage Aviation has one of the largest green roofs in New England. A rainwater collection and reuse system is being installed. In order to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its vehicles and aircrafts, other green efforts are underway. Lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft will help reduce the large carbon-footprint. LEKTRO tugs are used and Heritage Aviation’s ground vehicles run on bio-diesel.

Image courtesy of Flickr