Nassau's airport development has invested millions in energy efficiency, Guardian Business can reveal, as executives expect to save up to 15 percent in power usage over the coming years - a key investment that will likely pay dividends.
Kevin McDonald, the director of maintenance and engineering at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), said energy efficiency must be a priority with utility costs "rising almost daily".
"It's really up to us to do everything we can in our power to reduce energy consumption," he said.
"We wanted an airport with a degree of control. At the end of the day, we can only control what's on our end. There is no guarantee with utility costs."
McDonald, who heads LPIA's green initiatives, told Guardian Business was there no single answer to bringing these hefty expenditures down. Rather, it took a holistic effort whereby all systems work in tandem, creating a snowball effect.
High efficiency with the air conditioning is perhaps one of the more important steps.
Geo-Thermal technology cooling and the type of chillers allows the system to work at maximum effectiveness. The airport takes advantage of the cold water underground, digging a well of around 400 feet, pumping up water, and recooling the system so the chiller doesn't have to work as hard, McDonald explained.
The water also goes through a heat exchanger, making the water cooler. In addition, many of the air conditioners, he said, are located low to the ground, which maximizes their effectiveness.
Another effective tool for reducing the power bill is the use of lighting.
"There is a tremendous amount of natural light coming into the building," McDonald said.
"The physical light are sensitive and respond based on the building's needs."
In fact, during the day, there is little need for any lights to be turned on at all.
Large roof overhangs reduce heat gain from direct sunlight, while high windows under the overhang provide indirect light.
On the roof itself, the airport actively collects rainwater for the flushing of toilets and for the irrigation system in the gardens.
Throughout the new U.S. Departures terminal, ramps have been strategically to cut down on the need for escalators.
The result, McDonald calculated, is a minimum of 7-to-10 percent energy savings at present, with a total of 15 percent once the entire redevelopment is complete.
"A lot of people don't realize these the end result of these built-in, energy efficiency mechanisms build upon each other. It allows for decreased amount of energy that you are consuming daily," he explained.
In keeping with the drive for energy efficiency, LPIA has also made an effort to beautify the site, building four distinct gardens plus a planted area between the terminals and parking lots.
There are also four outdoor patios for eating and socializing on site - a feature Stewart Steeves, the president and CEO of the Nassau Airport Authority, calls "unheard of".
Approximately $3 million has been invested in greenery alone, Guardian Business has learned, with another $2 million spent on specifically commissioned Bahamian art. A partnership with the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas on a series of rotating artwork display bases is ongoing.
"That was considered important because we want a terminal with a local sense of place," McDonald said. "It was very important for the terminal, even though it's brand new, to reflect the Bahamian culture."

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