Huella Chile is the name of the initiative that seeks to promote the measurement, reporting and control of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, which today gives its seal to Nuevo Pudahuel. The program originated in the Ministry of the Environment and grants recognition in 4 levels, ranging from the measurement of carbon footprint to a declaration of excellence. The recognition is due to the fact that the concessionaire reached level 2 by measuring and reducing its GHG emissions as per the program requirements.
This recognition is part of Nuevo Pudahuel’s commitment to different initiatives that will reduce 40% of its CO2 emissions by 2030, and turn AMB airport into a zero-net emission terminal by 2050.
“We are not only committed to building a new world-class international terminal, to attracting more airlines and opening new routes that have resulted in a sustained drop in airfares. We also believe that all this development is not possible or sustainable if we do not reduce AMB’s carbon footprint. That is our promise as the airport’s concessionaire, which will require some extra expenses that are not contemplated in the contract,” says Xavier Lortat-Jacob, Nuevo Pudahuel’s CEO.
Among the initiatives focused on reducing carbon footprint emissions are:
- Energy Efficiency Audit to assess the airport’s energy/thermal performance and propose energy efficiency plans.
- Signing a “green agreement” with ENGIE to supply the air terminal with energy from 100% renewable sources.
- Establishing the first recycling program at Santiago airport, through which we recycled 174,000 kg of cardboard, 84,000 kg of glass and 305,000 kg of wood in 2019. Moreover, a bidding process for the new waste manager has begun in order to improve the operation and increase current recycling rates.
- Fitting of LED lights, as well as replacing 9703 fluorescent units (PL/Tubes), thus saving 70% in lighting energy.
- Reforestation plan through which over 500 indigenous trees have been donated to the municipality of Pudahuel to create new green areas in the commune and 7.27 hectares have been reforested in the airport site, planting over 20,000 trees.
- Developing a study to evaluate options and feasibility in the reuse of treated water from the Wastewater Treatment Plant used for irrigation.
- The Regional Ministerial Secretary of the Environment approved the project’s emissions compensation plan during its construction phase, where 754 meters of Campo Alegria Street in Pudahuel will be paved during 2021, thus achieving an emissions compensation equivalent to 36.02 t/year of MP10.
- Achieved the “MAPPING” level certification of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, an international program launched by the Airports Council International, making Arturo Merino Benitez Airport one of the 20 airports ranked with this level in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- A food waste reduction plan that reduces business’ waste while helping people at social risk, through an app called CoFood.
- Electric car charger fitting in one of the parking lots at Santiago airport, which allows passengers and suppliers to charge their cars for free.
- Photovoltaic plant with a power of 825,774 kW installed on the roof of the existing terminal, it consists of 2,465 interconnected photovoltaic modules and will generate an average of 1,256 MWh annually, which is equivalent to the annual usage of over 500 homes.