Hawaiian Earns Carbon Credits Through Engine-Washing

Hawaiian Airlines has earned aviation-based carbon credits under the Verified Carbon Standard, based in part on its use of Pratt & Whitney’s EcoPower engine-washing system.

EcoPower reduces fuel burn by using atomized water to wash engines in a closed-loop system that both filters and reuses water. The system helped the carrier reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 22,000 metric tons—the equivalent of taking 700 cars off the road annually—since embarking on the program in 2005. The project also saved more than 2.5 million gallons of fuel and about 26,000 gallons of water.

Hawaiian’s previous environmental initiatives include teaming up with Rolls-Royce to build a fleet of fuel-efficient planes, according to KHNL.com. The airline adopted performance-enhancing wing tips, as well as lighter passenger seats and service carts on its current wide-body fleet. The carrier has also implemented measures to recycle waste materials, and use renewable and biodegradable resources in onboard meal packaging and utensils.

More carriers are adopting such sustainability-oriented practices as the airline industry moves toward cleaner-burning alternatives to fossil fuels for jet engines. For example, Southwest Airlines reportedly debuted a redesigned cabin with seats that achieve weight savings of nearly six pounds each—or 635 pounds per aircraft.