More and more often, people are concerned about the environment. At every step of the supply chain, there are ways you can make your business greener and more sustainable.
Read on for just a few ways you can make your warehouse more environmentally friendly, thereby lowering your carbon footprint and your energy costs.
1. Use specialised doors to keep the warm in during the winter
This is a very straightforward way of reducing your carbon footprint because you will use less energy in heating your warehouse. One way of keeping your warehouse warm is to use wind-resistant, weather-proof doors to keep your employees and your equipment protected from the elements.
High-speed doors are also worth considering because they open and close quickly, which retains the warmth of the building and prevents too much cold air from entering.
Insulated roller shutter doors are also available, which have the structural benefits of roller shutters and the added benefit of foam infills to minimise energy loss.
2. Install personnel doors
If you haven’t already, we would highly recommend installing a separate personnel door in your warehouse. This has the safety benefit of keeping workers away from moving vehicles, but it also significantly reduces the number of times the main door needs to be opened to allow personnel to come and go, which then, in turn, reduces energy loss.
3. Install cold room doors for refrigerated areas
If you have a refrigerated area, freezer or cold room, some of your eco-friendly measures will include ensuring that your cold air doesn’t escape. Cold Chain Doors are specifically designed to open and close just in time to keep cold air in and warmer air out.
4. Reduce the need for air conditioning
Window security shutters are ideal for keeping your warehouse cool whilst maintaining security. They also allow you to minimise the energy your warehouse uses because you can use the windows to keep the room cool, rather than relying on air conditioning.
5. Use LED lights
Warehouses require a lot of light, but you can reduce your environmental impact by installing lower wattage bulbs. LED lighting can reduce your lighting costs by up to 50% and motion sensor lighting can drastically reduce energy use.
6. Use insulation
Consider insulating your warehouse to reduce the amount of heat and energy escaping through your walls.
7. Build up, not out
If you need to expand your business, wherever possible, it is better (in terms of heating costs and carbon footprints) to consider building upwards rather than adding to the floor plan of your warehouse. Sometimes mezzanine floors can be added to provide you with more workspace.
8. Recycle
Another sure-fire way to be more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of waste you produce and to recycle as much of your waste as you can. Small alterations throughout your warehouse processes can all add up to significant changes.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve learned some ways to make your warehouse more environmentally-friendly. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss adding more eco-friendly industrial doors to your warehouse or any other steps we can help you with to make your business more eco-friendly.