BA says its new £4.3bn terminal, which opens at Heathrow on Thursday, has been built with careful consideration for the environment, with a focus on reducing noise and emissions, minimising energy consumption, re-using and recycling water and waste and maximising use of sustainable resources.
The airline said 85% of the water that falls on T5 will be collected and reused, while 97% of the construction waste was reused and passengers can also contribute by recycling their waste at special facilities around the terminal.
In addition, 85% of the heat required by the terminal is provided by waste heat from the existing airport power station and the predominantly glass building allows in natural sunlight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
BA has also spent £25m in a new fleet of vehicles which all adhere to emissions standards.
The airline's figures were revealed as the Advertising Standards Authority announced it had upheld complaints about adverts taken out in the national press by environmental campaigners AirportWatch and enoughsenough.
The ASA said figures in the adverts about aviation emissions were misleading, as were claims that 60% of people were against airport expansion.
See also:
T5 given Royal seal of approval (14/03/08)
Walsh: T5 will not relieve Heathrow problems (20/09/07)
‘Green’ Heathrow terminal given the go-ahead (01/06/07)