Energy Saving Tips for a Warehouse

Lighting

• According to facilitiesnet.com, lighting usually makes up about half of a warehouse's electric bill. To lessen the load, remove one or two bulbs in lighting fixtures that take four or more bulbs. Lighting each bulb in the fixture isn't necessary where lighting isn't critical. Use timers or sensors so that lights turn off when no one is around that area of the warehouse. Though upgrading all of the lighting in a warehouse to energy-saving fluorescent options could cost a hefty upfront cost, according to ThomasNet.com, doing so could save 55 percent or more on annual lighting costs.
  
  

Construction

• Much of a warehouse's electric bill will come from the construction of the warehouse itself. Replace the roof with a material that reflects sunlight, keeping the interior naturally cooler. According to facilitiesnet.com, adding cool-roof technology could improve energy efficiency by five to 10 percent. However, if the warehouse resides in an area with more cold temperatures than hot temperatures, this would do you more harm than good. Add energy-efficient insulation to the walls or roof of the warehouse, which reduces heating and cooling losses.
  
  

Electric Motors

• In order to utilize mechanical instruments, such as driving conveyors, automated storage systems and more, electric motors are used in warehouses and are almost always turned on. These motors can account for up to 40 percent of a warehouse's electric bill, according to ThomasNet.com. Shut off conveyors when they are not in use. Install sensors to turn on motors so that the machines turn off when no one is around to require their use. Replace your old motors with soft start motors, which return a motor to full speed more quickly.
  
  

Computers

• According to ThomasNet.com, computers and office equipment are becoming one of the largest energy guzzlers in warehouses. To prevent this, computers in the warehouse should be turned off when not in use, or they should be set to a lower power mode that automatically switches on while the computers are not used. Also, warehouses should assign more than one person to each computer. This will allow less computers total, and it will discourage employees from using the computers for personal use.