SFO T2 to lead the nation's airport terminals in environmental design

Last month, SFO opened their doors to the public and media at the new and improved Terminal 2 with an all-day celebration.  First off, to go to the airport for any sort of opening seemed like a strange thing to do, but there was so much hype about what kind of experience it’d bring  for travelers, I had to see for myself.

Terminal 2 is slated be the first LEED Gold Certified airport terminal in the U.S.

One thing I walked away with is how much emphasis they placed on design.  If I can classify the look they were going for, it'd be minimalist but dazzling. The loudest buzz about this place was their attention to environmental sustainability. And there are lots to list here in terms of how they’re using design and technology to be eco-friendly. Water bottles. Finally!  We can hold on to our own water bottles we bring in to the airport.   To reduce plastics and garbage,  hydration stations have been installed so travelers can fill water bottles for free before making their way to gates.  At the security checkpoint area, you can dump liquids at disposal areas before going in and refill in the back. All food vendors follow a sustainable model from the food they sell (very strong emphasis on locally sourced food) to using recyclable and compostable materials.  You’ll find no Burger King here, folks.  The only major chains I saw were Starbucks, Peets, and Pinkberry.  The building itself includes 90% recycled content from the original building and it uses reclaimed water for toilets.  Composting, recycling and trash bins are placed everywhere, light fixtures are energy-efficient, and the carpet and flooring were made from recycled material. Very cool! Other nice touches for me were the large work tables in several places with power outlets and free wi-fi access and the way they’ve set up the air distribution system.  It's designed to deliver ventilation at a higher temperature and lower velocity so we won’t feel the blast of cold or warm air.

Designed to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption, the innovative sustainable elements included in Terminal 2 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the facility by an estimated 1,667 tons per year.   -SFO

Another major hype I heard was that the airport was going for bringing back romance to traveling. And they did.  The ambience is much like a luxury hotel with the wide open space in the ticket lobby, suspended art work, leather sofas, and other comfy and fun-looking chairs.   One could even opt for wine tasting if there was time at the wine bar. Congratulations SFO T2 for placing such emphasis on the well-being of not only the travelers but the earth.   Some things will be an adjustment for budget travelers, though. Forking up dough for rotisserie chicken and fair-trade organic coffee compared to a combo meal at Mickey D's will take some getting used to I'm sure.  This is an upscale terminal. Be ready to pay a few bucks more for reducing your carbon footprint.