William P. Hobby (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) will soon undergo major infrastructure and equipment upgrades aimed at reducing utility costs and improving air quality in the area as part of a construction management agreement between the Houston Airport System and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES).
The project, which could eventually cost more than $30 million, will include installing four new chillers as part of a new utility plant, improving building operations and installation of a solar array on new shading canopies.
When completed, the project is expected to reduce annual energy consumption at the two airports by more than 24 million kilowatt-hours, reducing the utility costs by more than $1.3 million annually.
The TEES Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) will manage the project design and construction, enabling Texas A&M Ph.D. students to get hands-on experience while performing a great service for the city of Houston, officials say. Funding will come from the LoanSTAR Program, administered by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) of the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
“Collaboration among the city, our universities and our centers of commerce, leveraging technology for sound business practices and a better world, is a great boost for our growing city,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says about the project, which begins this month and is expected to run a year. “I applaud this partnership and look forward to realizing its benefits.”
