While a warehouse may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of energy efficiency in the workplace, it can be one of the biggest sources of energy loss and rising bills. But that also means they provide a huge opportunity for energy and money saving, with the right techniques and technology in place. In this post, SSS Industrial Doors explores five ways you can make your warehouse more energy efficient.
Why do warehouses present
The size, layout, design and ultimately their purpose, makes the energy efficiency of warehouses a challenge in five main ways:
- Large open spaces
- Narrow corridors of space positioned between tall stacks and/or railings
- Tall ceilings and the use of certain roof materials can run the risk of temperatures rising from above due to solar
- Warehouses often contain perishable items that need to be kept at specific temperatures to be kept safe
- Large external doors that are open and closed regularly for long periods of time
How to make a warehouse more energy efficient
1. Know your starting point – Auditing
Before you can take steps to become more energy efficient – in any scenario – it’s crucial to know where you’re coming from. Start by examining your billing information, as this will let tell you where your consumption is going, and from there you can start to look at there reductions can be made, as well as tracking savings as you move forward.
This is also a good time to audit your equipment, although most large warehouse operations will already have a regular service and maintenance schedule in place. At the very minimum, this should include checks on the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system in the warehouse, along with attached office space.
Checking the equipment in your warehouse is not only about energy efficiency and functionality. It also ensures that you have the correct information about what you are using. Having a correct and up-to-date record of the models of equipment, their age, and previous service and maintenance details, is incredibly useful for the future and will also help with future efficiency plans.
Once you know where you’ve been, now you can set your sights on the future.
2. Think about your lighting
One of the easiest areas to sort first in any warehouse will be the lighting. Many warehouses will commonly use metal halide lights, but these can’t be switched on and off on-demand as they have a long warm-up time. This means they’ll be left on for long periods of time – which can have a huge impact on your energy bill, and the efficiency of your building.
An easy way to fix this is to switch to LED bulbs. As possibly the most energy efficient option on the market, and with a similar light quality to metal halide, LEDs are a great option for warehouses. They can be switched on and off when needed, and don’t take any time to “warm up” – so you won’t be lighting up areas unnecessarily.
Once you’ve made the switch to LED, you can also install motion sensors, which will turn the lights on and off depending on whether people are sensed within the room, and will turn off after a certain amount of time with no movement. Especially in warehouses – where there may be a flurry of activity followed by long empty periods – sensors are a good way to get on top of your lighting costs.
Now there is an upfront cost to consider when switching from metal halide lights to LEDs, but you’ll be saving much more in the long run, both in replacement costs and on your energy bills. The average lifespan of one LED bulb equates to between two and five metal halides. And when you’re lighting warehouses, loading bays, car parks and signs, it all adds up.
3. The HVAC system
The HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) system in your warehouse is not only incredibly important and a great way to keep your staff comfortable, it also takes up a huge part of your energy bill. And, when used efficiently, can help to keep your costs down.
Make sure that your heating and cooling systems work in unison rather than separately, as this can result in a great deal of wasted energy. You may also consider looking at insulation solutions or fans to help reduce heat lost through the roof. Installing a wireless thermostat system can help with ensuring heating and cooling systems are aligned efficiently.
4. Section by temperature
If your warehouse stores a variety of products that require being stored at different temperatures, take the time to review whether these are set up in the most efficient way. Keep cool storage spaces next to other cool areas, and warmer storage close together as this reduces the risk of temperature leakage between rooms, which can raise energy bills.
Some areas will require strict temperature controls and conditions, where any drop or increase can result in damage to the produce or products inside. Insulated roller shutters can come in handy here, keeping specific areas locked down tight to save you money and energy on cooling costs.
If you do need to keep certain areas at specific temperatures, work to ensure air tightness where possible. In large industrial buildings and warehouses, the frequent opening and closing of doors when people come and go can let a lot of heat out, so your system will have to work harder to maintain the ideal temperature. High speed doors are a strong choice here, as they are able to open and close quickly – as the name suggests – to ensure that any heat loss and temperature changes are minimised.
5. Get your people on board
You can the best systems and technology in place, but your people are the ones who keep the warehouse running, and ultimately are essential to energy efficiency in the long run. Spend some time and resources into creating a strong culture around energy efficiency in the workplace, and encourage your staff to do their bit. This could be through running additional training, implementing an energy certification process, or forming an internal efficiency team.
Another option for those with more budget is to invest in an energy manager. Someone skilled in this area can help make energy management and efficiency part of your everyday. This person will be responsible for checking and controlling your systems, monitoring costs, organising preventative and reactive maintenance, and ensuring staff are on board with energy measures.
From the loading bay and storage facilities to distribution, a warehouse should be designed to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Having the right processes and technology in place is a huge part of that. To ensure you have the right equipment in place, contact SSS Industrial Doors to speak to our expert team.
