Green technology and design have been touted as ways to save cost at the new KLIA East airport terminal that Air Asia is developing in Labu, Negri Sembilan.

The aviation industry has long been attacked for its poor environmental record and so airlines are now eager to improve their green credentials.

The question of carbon emissions is especially relevant in Malaysia, as the country’s carbon emissions are the fastest growing in the world. According to the United Nations Development Programme, carbon emissions in Malaysia have increased by a whopping 221 percent since 1990.

air asia pc labu low cost carrier terminal lcct 080109 airport terminal sketch 02 Air Asia hopes to tackle this issue, along with other ‘green questions’ in line with its overall low-cost philosophy.

"Being cost efficient is being good for the environment," is how Hamdan Mohamad of Air Asia’s corporate communications department formulates the airline’s environmental philosophy.

The operating cost of the new KLIA East terminal will be reduced by a design that incorporates passive and active environmental features. Active features include the installation of solar panels, energy saving light bulbs and an efficient air-conditioning system.

Passive measures include natural lighting and the planting of trees to provide shade. However, details have not yet been finalised.

Minimising carbon footprints

According to Hamdan, the low fuel consumption of Air Asia aircraft will also minimise its carbon footprint. The airline achieves low fuel consumption by using new aircraft and by operating from uncongested airports. Thus the plans to develope KLIA East in Labu instead of staying put at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang.

Another reason for the shift is a lack of capacity in the near future at the LCCT if Air Asia’s growth projections are realised.

air asia pc labu low cost carrier terminal lcct 080109 airport terminal sketch 01 Other Malaysian aviation players have also taken up environmental initiatives. Malaysia Airlines has a carbon offset program and money collected in its Green Journey website is put into a fund managed by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

Since 2004, the main terminal of KLIA has been Green Globe certified. This means it meets certain sustainability performance indicators and passes regular audits to check the airport’s environmental and social practices. It is currently the only airport in the world to have Green Globe certification.