Business owners and warehouse operators are always looking for effective ways and means by which profits can be maximised and costs reduced. In most instances, there are countless avenues to explore to achieve both. Nevertheless, one of the easiest and most effective ways of reducing operating costs in any warehouse is to simply focus on saving energy.
Monthly or quarterly energy bills represent some of the largest on-going costs in any warehouse facility. Nevertheless, comparatively few owners and managers thoroughly investigate and consider all possible energy saving initiatives. Of which some can be surprisingly simple.
So with this in mind, what follows is a quick overview of five simple yet extremely effective tips for saving a solid amount of energy (and therefore money) in a warehouse environment:
1. Convert your lighting system to LED
First of all, any warehouse that currently isn’t operating exclusively with LED lighting could be spending way more than necessary on energy bills. Not only can the latest LED technology reduce energy consumption by up to 75%, but the products themselves have become comprehensively affordable over recent years. It is an easy and affordable switch to implement which immediately and permanently contributes by way of significant energy savings.
2. Install skylights in all areas
Warehouses by their very nature tend to be relatively dark. However, if it is possible to install skylights or even additional windows, you may find it possible to operate during most times of day without using additional lighting. Or at least, you will be able to significantly reduce the amount of lighting required. It may come across as a disruptive and potentially expensive initial investment, but once again the savings start instantly and are continuous.
3. Take a look at your HVAC system
The vast majority of warehouses feature some kind of HVAC system, which is used by both regulating temperatures and keeping interior air in the best possible condition. However, in any instance where an HVAC system isn’t given regular maintenance or cleaned on a regular basis, it can become incredibly inefficient. When this happens, it may be using considerably more energy than it should, while failing to carry out its job properly. If you haven’t taken a close look at your HVAC system for some time, now could be the time to do so.
4. Turn off anything not in use
Most warehouses feature various examples of electronics and machinery that need to be used throughout each and every working day. Nevertheless, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the equipment in question needs to be used on a constant basis, without ever being turned off. From conveyor belts to lighting to computer equipment and so on, anything that doesn’t currently need to be used should be switched off until needed.
5. Conduct regular audits
Last but not least, conducting regular audits can make a big difference if you include energy use and consumption as key considerations. It’s simply a case of being proactive and going over your warehouse on a regular basis from top to bottom, in order to take note of any inefficiencies. Alternatively, you could organise for a professional audit team to visit your premises and carry out an independent, objective inspection on your behalf.
