WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De
Jesùs.
Galapagos Islands will have the world`s first ecological airport terminal with LEED Gold certification, tomorrow.
With the use of solar energy, water reuse and harnessing the winds, among other environmental innovations in technology supported, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands tomorrow will become the first in the world where there is a green airport terminal.
This was stated by Ezequiel Barrenechea, president of Ecological Airport in Galapagos and Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of America Corporation, which holds the concession of the archipelago airfield for fifteen years.
After a year of construction, the airport terminal will be operational tomorrow , but the finishes have not been finalized, as will be made "with the stone and wood that is removed from the old terminal, to thereby avoid waste and to reuse maximum existing material, "he said.
The building, which will be used by 800 to 1,000 passengers per day, will officially open the first week of next February, while August is expected to be ready for the track and platform.
In the construction of the airport, which takes into account the surrounding environment and are looking for a low impact on the ecosystem, will cost $ 24 million, according to Barrenechea.
"It is the first and only, for now, truly green and LEED Gold" he said, referring to the certification system for sustainable buildings developed by the Green Building Council of America.
They decided to build it in the Galapagos, about 1,000 kilometers from the mainland coasts of Ecuador, "because it is the best place to set an example that we can and must build sustainably.'s Natural Heritage of Humanity and icon regarding care of nature is concerned, "he said.
The builders say that green building aims to achieve greater environmental quality with minimal energy dependence, based on the implementation of bioclimatic strategies of natural conditioning and the use of renewable energies.
For example, the new terminal, daytime use only, has light colors on certain walls in search of light and large windows to let in natural light and help further the natural ventilation of the enclosure.
In the few areas where the natural breeze is not possible, use air ducts are buried, with forced ventilation.
The new building is located in the direction of the prevailing winds to get "full" breeze, that allows to lower the average temperature without air conditioning use and allows greater control regulate the amount of sunlight.
Also, the new location of the terminal ensures that gas and parked aircraft moving from entering the building and reduces the noise heard by passengers.
The airport is on the island of Baltra, which has no fresh water sources and where rainwater is limited.
A desalination plant will supply water to the terminal, where it is used in washing, while the recycled toilets.
In addition, a photovoltaic system supplies 13% of the total energy demand of the system and seeks to rise to 25%.
The Galapagos Islands is named after the large turtles that inhabit it and is, since 1978, Natural Heritage of Humanity designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
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