Oakland County airport first to be LEED-certified

Michigan's Oakland County airport is the first LEED-certified aviation airport terminal in the United States.

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The new Oakland County International Airport in Michigan is the first U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified general aviation airport terminal in the country and Oakland County's first LEED-certified building.

All told, the project cost $7.5 million, with $2 million coming from the federal government.

The energy-saving features include wind and solar power sources, geothermal heating and cooling, and LED and fluorescent lighting. There are also electric vehicle charging stations and a living wall in the lobby. Solar panels and wind turbines will save about 15% in energy usage. The geothermal heating and cooling, which pulls 55 F water from the earth so that energy is saved by not having to cool or warm water to reach ideal building temps, will save 50% or more in energy costs.

The new airport building will house airport administration, U.S. Customs, an office for the Waterford Police Department, and also have a conference room available to airport users and the community.

- Edited by Chris Vavra, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, www.csemag.com