Noble Green Energy Blog // How to Reduce Energy Used in Your Warehouse

As any business owner will tell you, warehouses use a lot of energy. However, you don’t just have to grit your teeth and bear it. There are strategies you can deploy to reduce your warehouse energy consumption and prevent these facilities from driving up your costs. By addressing common challenges and implementing energy-saving solutions to overcome these hurdles, you can improve sustainability in your operation while lowering overheads. In this blog, Noble Green Energy explores some common energy-related problems your business faces when operating a warehouse and how to solve them.

Problem: Lack of Energy Monitoring

Failing to track energy usage in your warehouse is a problem because you won’t know where waste is occurring. This lack of monitoring can impact efficiency and make it challenging to know where you are missing opportunities to save.

Solution: Energy Monitoring System

You can fix this by installing energy monitoring systems that keep tabs on energy consumption in real time. These show you which appliances are using the majority of your energy (usually your HVAC), allowing you to make adjustments accordingly.

Some solutions also provide you with data dashboards on the computer for a more granular overview. These are even more effective for making energy-saving decisions.

Problem: Inefficient Equipment

Another issue could be inefficient equipment. Conveyor belts and forklift trucks can become outdated and begin to consume more energy.

Solution: Replacing Equipment

The solution here is to simply replace older items with newer, more efficient alternatives. While there is an upfront cost involved, you may find that you save more money long-term. Look for ENERGY STAR-rated equipment; these certified standards ensure that machinery is more frugal with its energy consumption.

Problem: Outdated HVAC Systems

Old and rickety HVAC systems are another issue that your warehouse might face. These pieces of equipment can drain power more than you might think when regulating internal temperatures.

Solution: Energy-Efficient Temperature Control

Fortunately, you can fix old heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems with modern and energy-efficient alternatives. Manufacturers design these for large-scale use, making them more suitable for today’s enormous warehousing installations.

Many operators like to combine them with thermostats for even better temperature control based on the time of day. However, they still require regular servicing to operate at peak performance, including changing the filters for lower overall energy usage.

Problem: Open Doors & Loading Bays

Another energy drain is open warehouse doors (usually for loading bays). These openings allow air to escape, increasing HVAC energy demands to maintain a stable temperature.

Solution: Automatic Doors

The solution is to install automatic doors that open and shut when required. These are less dependent on operatives shutting them manually. You can also try training staff to minimise door-opening times. Staff in the habit of shutting doors after lorries leave can save a tremendous amount of energy.

Problem: Inefficient Lighting Systems

Inefficient lighting systems are also an energy drain in warehouses due to the sheer quantity of lights most facilities employ in their interior spaces. Estimates suggest that lighting accounts for 20-50% of warehouse energy usage, which is considerable.

Solution: LED Bulbs

Switching to LED bulbs will fix this problem as they use between 75% and 90% less energy than conventional alternatives and don’t produce waste heat, reducing stress on AC units during summer. You could also explore using natural daylight or skylights to allow more light to enter the warehouse during the day. Again, these options can lower energy costs.

Problem: Poor Insulation

Poor insulation makes it hard for warehouses to maintain stable internal temperatures. Most have a single metal sheet separating internal areas from the outdoors. Heat can escape easily during the winter through gaps or simply radiate out via the building’s shell, leading to higher bills.

Solution: Upgraded Insulation

The solution is to use upgraded equipment. High-quality materials like spray foam or rigid board insulation can be lifesavers in situations like these, preventing so much heat from radiating away. You can also look into other solutions, like sealing air leaks. Gaps around doors and windows are major culprits in warehouses.

The Ultimate Solution: Installing Solar Panels

Of course, the ultimate solution for many warehouses wanting to reduce energy usage is to install solar panels. These take energy efficiency to the next level by providing electricity for every system in the warehouse, going beyond mere patch solutions.

Solar panels work by converting solar radiation into usable electricity via photovoltaic technology. Incoming photons get converted into electrons, which can then be used to power systems inside the warehouse. Furthermore, excess energy can be sold to the grid via net metering. With government incentives and rebates, the technology is more affordable than ever before, helping your warehouse operate more profitably.

If you’re looking to reduce your warehouse or manufacturing energy consumption, then Noble Green Energy is here to help. We have worked on a number of successful solar panel installations for warehouses, so get in touch today.

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