LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL RECOGNIZE EARTH HOUR BY TURNING OFF ICONIC LAX GATEWAY PYLONS
(Los Angeles, California – March 18, 2016) The signature 100-foot-tall Gateway pylons that illuminate the entrance to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will glow green – and then go dark – in recognition of International Earth Hour on Saturday, March 19.
Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., the pylons will be turned off in concert with lights at other city-owned buildings and famed structures across Los Angeles.
"As our City landmarks go dark on Earth Hour, I urge all Angelenos to consider the striking impacts of climate change -- and find ways to make a difference,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “We are making progress but we could do so much more. Walk or bike with your kids to school, take transit to work, save water at home, and let's make Los Angeles the most sustainable city on earth."
International Earth Hour started with a single lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and has grown into an observance recognized in 172 countries and territories in 2015, with official events in more than 7,000 cities. The goal of the event, administered by the World Wildlife Fund, is to encourage businesses and the public to turn off non-essential lighting for one hour in support of actions to combat climate change and encourage a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future.
More than 10,000 iconic landmarks worldwide, including the LAX pylons, went dark for Earth Hour during last year’s observance on March 31.
“Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is a global leader in airport sustainability,” said Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton. “We are proud to partner with the Mayor’s office to align our sustainability efforts with citywide sustainability initiatives and the City’s goals for the economy, the environment, and equity.”
“Our sustainability policy, adopted in 2008, provides clear guidance and details our commitment to improving air and water quality, reducing noise impacts, and building green infrastructure that is held to the highest sustainability standards,” said Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.
Two recent Capital Improvement Projects that reflect LAWA’s commitment to sustainability include the new Central Utility Plant (CUP), a cogeneration facility that is 25% more energy efficient in fuel consumption and 60% more efficient in producing chilled water. The new Tom Bradley International Terminal achieved the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Gold certification in 2015.
Most recently, United Airlines worked with Los Angeles World Airports to bring sustainable, lower-carbon aviation biofuel to LAX, kicking off the initiative with a daily flight to San Francisco. The airline is making final preparations to add the renewable fuel to the LAX fuel farm, from which other airlines will also make use of it.
LAWA’s environmental commitment also includes an award- winning employee Ride Share Program, the use of more-efficient lighting, operating the largest alternative fuel fleet of its kind in the nation and the extensive recycling and reuse of asphalt and concrete onsite, which greatly minimizes truck traffic on local roads and freeways.
Even the LAX pylons have changed, both to improve their energy efficiency and allow the display of more than 16 million colors, since their initial installation in 2000. Using improved technology, the 736 lamps that originally lit the pylons were replaced with 2,000 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 2005. The new lights use 75 percent less electricity and last for 75,000 to 100,000 hours, compared to the 3,000-hour lifespan of the original fixtures.
The pylons, which line 1.5 miles of Century Boulevard, and grow in height from 25 to 60 feet before culminating in a ring of 15, 100-foot columns at the entrance to LAX, will be lit green both before and after the Earth Hour observation Saturday night.
Lighting required for public safety will not be turned off during the event.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the fifth busiest airport in the world and second in the United States, based on 2014 airport rankings (the latest available). LAX served more than 74.9 million passengers in 2015. LAX offers 692 daily nonstop flights to 85 cities in the U.S. and 928 weekly nonstop flights to 67 cities in 34 countries on 59 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.1 million tons of air cargo valued at over $86.9 billion. An economic study in 2011 reported that operations at LAX generated 294,400 jobs in Los Angeles County with labor income of $13.6 billion and economic output of more than $39.7 billion. This activity added $2.5 billion to local and state revenues. LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
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