Minneapolis Airport Expansion Uses Geothermal Heating and Water Conservation Methods to Reduce Impact

The improved facilities are expected to reduce their total energy use by 19 percent.

1 minute read

September 20, 2024, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Sign on glass building for Minneapolis International Airport with airplane landing reflected in building.

Skórzewiak / Adobe Stock

A terminal expansion plan for the Minneapolis Airport includes geothermal heating and water conservation measures, reports Brian Martucci in Smart Cities Dive. The project, which broke ground in August, will add two new gates, expanded seating, new restrooms, and additional operational areas.

“The improvements in the expanded north end of Terminal 2 are expected to reduce overall energy demand for heating and cooling by 19%, water drawn from the local water utility by 56% and energy demand for interior and exterior lighting by 23% and 62%, respectively, according to an MAC fact sheet shared with Smart Cities Dive sister publication Facilities Dive.”

The airport received a $20 million grant through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program to pursue the $263-million project, which will use a groundwater-based heating and cooling system and efficient water fixtures. “The expanded terminal will feature high-efficiency building envelope improvements, including triple-glazed windows installed with bamboo framing, increased wall and roof insulation and airtight exterior detailing.”

Thursday, September 19, 2024 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation