Environmental Leader

The General Aviation Facility at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport is the first such facility in the U.S. to have installed an on-site wind turbine, according to a press release.

The 100 kilowatt wind turbine adds to the facility’s new 25 kilowatt solar electric system and a solar thermal hot water system.

Heritage Aviation, which owns the facility, is building its resume to acheive LEED certification for its office and hangar facilities.

The solar system is comprised of 150 210-watt solar panels on the roof of the office building.

Taken together, the solar and wind systems are expected to offset about $14,600 in energy costs a year, or enough to power about 40 area homes.

Alteris Renewables participated in the project, along with Northern Power.

In addition to the renewable energy aspects, Heritage Aviation is installing a rainwater collection and reuse system, as well as one of the largest green roofs in the New England area.

Also, the facility uses LEKTRO tugs and ground vehicles that run on bio-diesel, according to a press release.

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority also is working to reduce its emissions, reports Signs on San Diego.

The airport will launch a series of efforts in 2010 to slash greenhouse-gas emissions from aircraft, shuttle buses and other vehicles.