New JKIA terminal to embrace green building design
The check-in lounge at the new departure terminal at the JKIA. Departure and arrivals are now in separate terminals. PHOTO| FILE
What you need to know:
“Fixed air conditioning links will also be installed on the air bridges to supply pre-conditioned air to stationary aircrafts as opposed to the running engines. This will also control noise and emissions associated with aircraft engines.”
Construction of the facility is being carried out by Anhui Civil Engineering Group (ACEG) and China Aero Technology Engineering International Corporation (Cactic).
The government will fund 15 per cent of the project while the balance will come from loans by consortia of local and foreign banks.
Kenya Airports Authority is looking to minimise the amount of energy used for lighting and cooling the massive Greenfield Terminal.
The design is likely to see millions of shillings saved in power costs for the terminal that will cover 1.9 million square feet.
An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report says that the terminal’s East-West orientation will allow it to take advantage of natural light and the prevailing winds.
“The orientation of the terminal building structures is on east–west to maximise hours of natural lighting, effectively saving energy and associated costs,” the report says. “The structure of the windows and vents are also oriented on an east–west direction (the direction of the prevailing winds) for natural ventilation and aeration of the terminal areas.”
The terminal will feature 50 international check-in desks and 10 domestic check-in desks as well as a hotel for limited accommodation of transit passengers; among others.
Shading materials for open spaces
The Sh56 billion Greenfield Terminal, whose construction was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year, is expected to increase Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s capacity by 20 million passengers annually. The report adds that the buildings in the terminal will adopt a “green roofing” technology by use of a thermal mass for roofing. A thermal mass is a material that moderates internal temperatures by absorbing solar energy during the day and re-radiating it at night when it gets cold.
“Shading materials for open spaces have been designed to complement the temperature conditioning,” the report adds.
The other addition will be the use of green points dotted across the buildings which will see the introduction of indoor plants to further help moderate the micro-climate of the terminal.
Other features will include the use of fixed electrical ground power points to provide auxiliary power to the aircrafts as opposed to running engines. These power units are used to start a plane’s engine as well as provide on-board power supply while the aircraft is parked.
“This is designed to reduce carbon emissions from stationary aircrafts,” says the ESIA report.
“Fixed air conditioning links will also be installed on the air bridges to supply pre-conditioned air to stationary aircrafts as opposed to the running engines. This will also control noise and emissions associated with aircraft engines.”
Construction of the facility is being carried out by Anhui Civil Engineering Group (ACEG) and China Aero Technology Engineering International Corporation (Cactic).
The government will fund 15 per cent of the project while the balance will come from loans by consortia of local and foreign banks.
