Mineta Airport’s new Terminal B has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for its innovative approaches to energy conservation and recycling. Throughout the building, energy efficiency surpassed energy usage standards by 16 percent. Key features include the widespread use of natural lighting, energy conserving windows, a programmable lighting control system which includes occupancy sensors, and a low energy ventilation system.
Recycled materials featured prominently in the construction of the Terminal too, diverting 920 tons of discarded construction materials from landfills. Recycling was most apparent in the structural steel used in the building, which was 76 percent recycled steel, while carpets and tiling utilized 27 and 23 percent recycled materials respectively. In addition, 70 percent of the wood used in the building was Forest Stewardship Council Certified.
Water also continued to be recycled at Mineta, with recycled water used for toilets and landscape irrigation. The landscaping also makes use of drip irrigation to water plants with low water needs, many of them indigenous to the region.
To-Do List: Feb. 21-25 
