- New Lights a Part of City’s Ongoing Terminal Core Redevelopment Plan to Reduce Airport Energy Use and Maintenance Costs
Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) joined ComEd at O’Hare International Airport today to celebrate the completion of an ambitious energy-efficient lighting project for Terminals 1 and 3. This project supports the City of Chicago in realizing the benefits of cleaner and more efficient energy practices.
“I thank ComEd for its partnership in reducing O’Hare’s energy consumption and carbon footprint,” CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said. “From developing the first-in-the nation Sustainable Airport Manual to implementing green designs in all of our development projects and even utilizing livestock to help maintain airport property, the CDA has a long and impressive track record of seeking ways to expand our industry-leading sustainability initiatives at Chicago’s airports.”
As part of the project, ComEd worked with the City to replace 685 metal halide outdoor lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs. While the new lights are designed to improve safety and visibility, they are also estimated to help the airport save nearly 1.75 million kilowatt-hours a year. This helps reduce from the air more than 1.1 million pounds of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, which is the equivalent of powering nearly 160 ComEd customer homes for one year or planting approximately 630 acres of trees.
By working through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, the CDA earned more than $326,000 in incentives. Combined with the reduction in energy use and maintenance costs, the payback period – or the amount of time before O’Hare recoups its investment – is estimated to be less than one year.
“The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program plays an increasingly important role in making our buildings more sustainable and reducing our collective emissions across the region – goals shared by ComEd and the City of Chicago through its Climate Action Plan,” said Melissa Washington, ComEd’s Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategy. “ComEd is proud to work with the CDA in helping the city of Chicago incorporate sustainable energy practices that will reduce our carbon footprint and make the airports and our Chicago communities more sustainable for years to come.”