LEED v4 Platinum Certification for SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced that its Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has become the first airport terminal in the world to earn ‘Platinum’ certification for using the latest standards from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programme developed by the US Green Building Council.

This latest version, known as LEED v4, raises the bar for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance structures.

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SFO earned this certification for Boarding Area B in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, which includes the 25-gate concourse, post-security concession space, and integrated connector to the US Customs Federal Inspection Area.

“We are truly proud to be the first airport in the world to earn LEED v4 Platinum certification,” enthused Airport Director Ivar Satero.

“This achievement continues a tradition of leadership in sustainable facilities that includes the first LEED Gold airport terminal in the United States, and the world’s first zero net energy facility at an airport.

“My thanks go out to the entire project team for continuing to push the envelope for what airports can accomplish to support our environmental goals.”

SFO notes that sustainable design and construction measures were prioritised at every stage of the project, resulting in the implementation of more than a significant number of sustainable practices.

Highlights include:

• Self-energising (regenerative) elevators recycle energy, rather than wasting it as heat
• Go-Slow escalators and moving walkways that reduce speed when not in use to save energy
• Radiant heating and cooling to complement displacement ventilation to provide energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and enhanced passenger comfort
• Dynamic glazed windows that change with the sun’s location, to reduce glare and improve comfort
• Low-flow, hands-free bathroom fixtures and faucets save water in our drought-prone state
• Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, providing renewable power for the facility

In 2011, SFO became the first airport in the US to achieve LEED Gold certification for an airport terminal, with the certification of Terminal 2.