Gresham Smith is proud to announce that the firm has assisted Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in achieving Level 4 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program from Airports Council International, the only internationally-recognized carbon management certification program for airports. This accreditation demonstrates DAL’s commitment to effectively measuring, managing and reducing its carbon footprint as part of its focus on building a sustainable airport system.
“Gresham Smith is proud to have partnered with the City of Dallas on this important project at Dallas Love Field airport. Achieving Level 4 accreditation—and being only one of five airports in the U.S. to do so—is a significant accomplishment and will promote the longevity of the city and surrounding region,” said Gresham Smith Sustainability and Resiliency Program Manager Lauren Seydewitz, LEED AP BD+C.
To assist DAL with achieving Level 4, Gresham Smith developed the strategy and roadmap for meeting ACA program requirements. The firm coordinated with internal and external stakeholders to develop an airport-wide carbon footprint report, established short-, medium- and long-term initiatives for reducing emissions from the airport’s operations, and established a comprehensive Carbon Management Plan.
Actions to reduce emissions include implementing numerous energy conservation measures, designing new buildings to high sustainability standards, establishing electrical vehicle infrastructure and replacing vehicles and equipment with efficient versions, and more. Additionally, the City of Dallas purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that attribute wind power to cover all electricity, resulting in an 85% reduction in the annual carbon footprint since 2015, and invested in high-quality carbon credits to offset residual emissions.
Gresham Smith previously assisted DAL in achieving Levels 1 and 2 in the ACA program, which set the foundation for quantifying carbon emissions, as well as Level 3, which expanded the focus to business partners. Level 4 accreditation focuses on establishing long-term plans for aligning with the Paris Agreement.
