Energy prices are a hot topic right now (excuse the pun) and every business is looking at ways to ensure their facilities’ power consumption is lowered, we’ve put together some tips for reducing warehouse energy consumption – such large spaces require a lot of energy to keep them running and with the price increases, businesses are seeing their bottom line reduced. Even with the Energy Bill Relief for businesses announced by the UK Government it is still important to keep energy consumption as low as possible to make rising costs more bearable.
A survey by the Carbon Trust found that 30% of the energy used in warehouses and logistics was not very effective or necessary. Representing a 30% overspend on avoidable energy costs which impacts business profits and balance sheets.*
The main energy-using systems in a warehouse are:
- Lighting
- Heating and ventilation
- Forklifts, cranage and automation
- Energy Management
Reducing warehouse energy consumption will vary from property to property but there are some common areas where simple upgrades can deliver a significant impact on warehouse facilities and manufacturing centres.
We will be looking at points 1 and 2 in this blog.
Energy Efficient Lighting Systems.
Lighting accounts for between 65% and 95% of energy use in ambient warehousing. Carbon Trust
Most warehouse facilities are illuminated 24/7 so lighting is a priority when it comes to evaluating energy efficiency. By replacing existing lighting systems with modern LEDs you will find your electricity bills instantly reduced compared to fluorescent tube and sodium lighting. LEDs not only reduce your energy consumption but also have a longer life span, meaning reduced maintenance and reduced glare, making your working environment more comfortable for employees and offering cheaper maintenance costs
LED lighting can also be connected to dimming controls and motion sensor timers. Motion sensor timers will switch your lights on only when motion is detected so lights will turn on automatically when an employee is in the space, when the space is cleared the lights will automatically turn off. The system has been specifically designed to reduce energy waste and save you up to 30% on your costs.
Remote heating and lighting controls.
Installing remote heating and lighting controls allows for specific light and heat levels to be set in different areas of the building and can be adjusted for time and seasonal variations. This system allows Facilities managers to gather information about the building’s energy usage and adjust the settings accordingly – having this information available makes a great case for businesses when looking at adopting new measures in the future.
Heat delivery and thermal efficiency.
Comfortable working temperatures are imperative for employees, no one wants to work in freezing cold or overly hot environments, either of these extremes can have negative effects on your staff and you will slowly see staff productivity dwindle. Heating efficiency, alongside your lighting, should be a top business priority for any manufacturing facility or warehouse.
If your warehouse facility does not maintain the heat it needs, installing adequate levels of wall and roof insulation in areas that are experiencing high levels of heat loss can make a huge difference. Insulation measures are a relatively low-cost solution that has a big impact so you should start to see cost saving on fuel bills very quickly – covering your upfront costs in no time at all.
It may also be beneficial for you to upgrade your heat delivery system if your warehouse is struggling to retain warmth, although costly, a new system will help to reduce your carbon emissions and costs. A highly efficient, cost-reducing, low-carbon solution to this may be to install heat pumps, which are powered by electricity and can be connected to an onsite solar PV system.
Leading us on to our next tip…
On-site renewable energy generation
Warehouses and other large commercial and industrial properties are excellent for solar PV because the roof has such a large surface area. Installing a solar PV array should generate enough capacity to meet a significant proportion of the electricity demand, significantly reducing energy bills compared to purchasing electricity from a commercial supplier and feeding back into the business.
It may also be worth considering battery storage technologies…
Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when customers need power most.
Any excess electricity you make from your solar panels gets stored for a later date and could even be used as an additional revenue stream, sell it back to the grid or to your neighbours!
This solution can also enable users to take advantage of new ‘flexible’ energy tariffs, where electricity prices fluctuate throughout the day in response to changing levels of generation and demand throughout the country.
Even without soaring energy bills, reducing warehouse energy consumption is something that manufacturing and warehouse businesses should be planning for, as long term it will reduce business costs, increase the bottom line and help to create a greener future. Implementing an energy policy across the business will help to educate employees and make sure they are doing what they can to help, giving maximum benefit from any physical energy efficiency improvements that are made to business premises.
Staff who have a good understanding of the financial and environmental impacts of the site will be better placed and more emotionally invested in supporting efforts to reduce energy consumption.
*https://ctprodstorageaccountp.blob.core.windows.net/prod-drupal-files/documents/resource/public/Warehousing-and-logistics-guide.pdf