Airport's green strategy now just a touch away

PRESS RELEASE: 29.10.2008

Auckland Airport's green strategy now just a touch away

When it comes to energy and water conservation matters, the writing is definitely on the wall at Auckland Airport's brand new international pier. And it's all controlled by the touch of a finger.

Greening the Airport is the central theme of a new touchscreen installation at the new pier, a digital information facility that enables inbound and outbound travellers to learn more about the many 'green' features of the pier and the airport's Greening the Airport strategy.

The new pier - built to accommodate the airport's increasing number of flight arrivals and departures and service larger aircraft like the Airbus A380 - is the first New Zealand building on track to be awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the US Green Building Council, an independent organisation that verifies and certifies 'green' buildings throughout the world.

Kate Edenborough is Auckland's Airport's environmental planner, one of the environmental management team making the LEED application: According to Kate, it's not always easy being green: "We had to look at every detail of the new pier to ensure that it met the LEED 'Green Building' criteria. That included energy and water conservation, controlling the interior air quality - right down to the materials used in construction. The touchscreen presentation is part of meeting LEED certification requirements because it educates people on green issues. Even the exterior framing has been made from local, sustainable materials and the screens turn off when not in use."

The touchscreen installation was created by The Complete Package, a leading digital media company based in Auckland. Each of the two 46-inch LCD touchscreens are Sharp commercial display monitors with Next Window touchframes.

Travellers are attracted to the touchscreens by an animated screen saver and are invited to touch the screen to find out more about the LEED certification process, the new 'green' terminal's features and the airport's Greening the Airport strategy. Through text, photos and animated diagrams, the viewer receives on-demand information about the pier's 'green' features, like the large photovoltaic array on the rooftop that generates power for the pier and the solar panels that heat water for the washrooms.

Director of The Complete Package, Kevin Wright, found the project interesting: "It was a great experience, designing and producing the interactive content for the new pier's green features. A balance had to be found between easy to understand visuals and detailed technical information. The content had to be suitable for people of all ages. We had a very good team on the project. Kate Edenborough was invaluable in providing direction and assistance. As a possible worlds first interactive touchscreen display of a building’s green features, it is setting the standard for others."

ENDS