Reaching Net-Zero Energy in Airport Design

By Taylor Friesen, Summer Intern

Point of View

Taylor Friesen joined the Bozeman studio as a summer design intern, participating in the firm’s robust internship program that includes conducting an in-depth research project. Taylor is pursuing a Master of Architecture at Montana State University, where she also received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design. Read more from our 2026 internship cohort and all our past intern research projects here.

PDX Terminal Balancing & Concourse E Extension interior seating
Portland International Airport (PDX) Concourse E expansion, designed by Hennebery Eddy, shows typical concourse conditions, with large stretches of glazing and high ceilings.

Understanding Airport Energy Use

Airports are among the most energy-intensive building types, according to an analysis by Journal of Air Transport Management, because of their continuous hours of operation, large conditioned spaces, extensive stretches of glazing, and complex operational requirements.

Achieving net-zero energy in airports presents unique challenges. Many sustainable design strategies commonly used in other building types must be adjusted to accommodate airport-specific considerations such as airfield operations, passenger circulation, security requirements, and long-term infrastructure planning. Airport projects are usually renovations or additions, requiring design teams to work within existing site and building constraints. As a result, factors such as building orientation, massing, and circulation may be less flexible than in new construction projects.

Airports consume significantly more energy per square foot than most standard commercial buildings, according to the Transportation Research Board. When compared with a typical large office building, airports consume roughly twice as much energy per square foot. Research consistently shows that heating and cooling loads represent 40-60% of airport energy consumption, making them a critical focus area for designers seeking to improve building performance.

net-zero energy airport
Airports consume double the energy of a large office building; data is sourced from a study used to develop an energy benchmarking tool for airports. EUI, or energy-use intensity, is a measure of how much energy a building consumes per unit of floor area in a year.

Reducing Airport Energy Demand Through Architectural Design

While many factors of energy use are operational, designers can apply different design strategies to reduce energy usage depending on the project type and design phase.

Reaching net-zero energy requires a combination of strategies implemented throughout the design process. Early decisions focus on reducing energy use by using daylighting studies, energy modeling, and programming analysis to inform design decisions. Strategies to offset energy use, such as renewable energy sources, are also investigated early in the design process and leverage the site or building exterior to generate energy. As the project develops, building performance is optimized through systems and technology that further refines energy use. Throughout the entire design process, it is also important to consider how spaces are flexible to adapt to new technology.

net-zero energy airport
A framework for implementing design strategies to reach net-zero energy in airport projects.
Reduce

Reducing energy demand is often the most effective and economical way to improve airport performance. Because heating and cooling systems account for a large portion of airport energy use, early design decisions that reduce thermal loads can significantly improve building performance.

Strategies such as building orientation, daylighting, shading devices, and passive ventilation reduce operational energy demand. However, airports present unique constraints, as terminal orientations are often driven by runway layouts, aircraft operations, and existing infrastructure rather than optimal solar orientation. Energy and daylight modeling help design teams evaluate these conditions early and identify opportunities to improve performance.

Space planning can also serve as an energy-saving strategy. Projects such as Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) demonstrate how consolidating waiting areas can reduce building footprint and conditioned space while improving circulation. Similarly, outdoor terraces and waiting areas can provide passenger amenities without increasing the terminal’s conditioned area.

Airport Terminal Design
Thoughtful louvre design at RDM preserves passenger views while reducing glare from morning and evening sun exposure.
Case Study: Redmond Municipal Airport Terminal Expansion

Hennebery Eddy’s design for the Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) Terminal Expansion demonstrates how passive design strategies can improve building performance while enhancing the passenger experience. As an expansion of the existing terminal, the project was constrained by the orientation of the existing facility, with primary façades facing southeast and northwest rather than the cardinal directions, which are optimal for passive shading because the sun’s path is more predictable.

Early daylight and glare analysis revealed that direct sun exposure could create significant glare in passenger areas and at gate agent workstations. Through extensive daylight modeling, the design team developed a custom sun-shading system that reduces glare and improves occupant comfort while preserving views of the Cascade Mountains, a defining feature of the passenger experience.

Rather than treating solar control as a purely technical solution, the shading devices were integrated into the architectural expression of the terminal. The resulting pattern references the surrounding mountain landscape, reinforcing the airport’s regional identity while improving building performance.

Airport Terminal Design
The shading devices at RDM create a pattern that reflects the form of the nearby Cascade Mountains.
Offset

After reducing energy demand, airports can offset a portion of their remaining energy use through onsite renewable energy generation. Airports often possess unique opportunities for renewable energy integration due to their large sites, expansive roofs, parking areas, and surrounding land. Solar photovoltaic systems, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), geothermal systems, and wind energy can all contribute to reducing operational energy costs and supporting net-zero energy goals.

However, renewable energy strategies in airports must account for challenges not typically encountered in other building types. Solar arrays, for example, require glare studies to ensure they do not interfere with pilot visibility. Geothermal systems must be coordinated with airfield and site infrastructure, while wind turbines may be subject to FAA restrictions and operational considerations (explanation here).

Renewable energy production is required to offset energy use when reaching net-zero energy.
Optimize

Once energy demand has been reduced and renewable energy opportunities are evaluated, building performance can be further optimized through operational systems and technology. Advanced glazing, automated lighting controls, occupancy sensors, and building management systems improve efficiency by responding to changing conditions and occupancy patterns. Airport-specific studies can also refine comfort zones and operational schedules to reduce unnecessary energy use. While many of these strategies only provide small energy savings on their own, the layering and integration of multiple strategies at once can create significant overall energy savings.

Energy-saving systems and strategies have the most impact when combined with other strategies.
Adapt

Sustainability in airport design is not only about reducing energy consumption today; it also involves designing facilities that remain useful and efficient as technology evolves. While it is difficult to predict exactly which technologies will become standard, airports must be prepared to accommodate future changes and balance energy-use increases with potential efficiencies.

Emerging technologies that may impact future airport energy use and space needs include:

  • Electrification of airport operations: reduces carbon emissions but would increase overall energy demand.
  • Biometric passenger processing: can reduce queuing space and improve circulation efficiency, which could reduce airport footprint size.
  • Alternative aircraft fueling: systems like hydrogen or electric may require new utility infrastructure, storage spaces, and possible changes to gate spacing.
  • Automation: could change how passenger processing, baggage handling, and other airport functions are organized and operated.

Buildings that can adapt to future technologies are more likely to avoid costly renovations, extend service life, and continue performing efficiently for decades.

Conclusion

Achieving net-zero energy in airport design requires more than the implementation of a single technology or design strategy. Successful projects reduce energy demand through passive design, offset remaining consumption through renewable energy generation, optimize performance through advanced building systems, and maintain flexibility to accommodate future change.

While airports present unique operational and infrastructure challenges, designers play a critical role in shaping their long-term performance. Early decisions related to site planning, daylighting, shading, circulation, and adaptability often have the greatest impact on energy consumption throughout an airport’s life.

Internship Experience

My summer as an intern with Hennebery Eddy has been an amazing experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from such talented and supportive designers. Throughout my internship, I participated in site visits, attended client meetings, worked on a variety of projects, continued developing my technical and design skills, and even had the chance to visit the Portland office during Intern Week! This experience also deepened my understanding of how thoughtful design can support both communities and the environment, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to my education and career.

Research Sources