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Whether you operate a warehouse within your business or you’re thinking of running one, it’s common to see these places as hives of activity. Distribution warehouses are large, always stocked with goods, and incredibly busy – so it’s fair to say they’re where all the action happens.
Today, we’re going to discuss the different contributing factors of energy usage and wastage across business warehouses.
From energy-efficient lighting to heat pumps, to making use of the space you have available, we’ll be going through some of the best ways to keep your energy usage low. In doing so, you’ll be able to keep costs low, too.
How Much Energy Does A Distribution Warehouse Use?
Your typical distribution warehouse will use incredibly high levels of energy due to lighting and the machinery used inside most warehouses. Heating is also important, depending on the goods stored within the warehouse, which can hike up your energy costs.
Typically, the average warehouse without air-con systems will use around 6.1 Kilowatt-hours of energy per year. This can quickly add up and end up costing you a fortune.
If the goods require a specific temperature, then you can expect the energy usage of your warehouse to quickly increase beyond the average 6.1 kWh.
Thankfully, there are a few fantastic ways you can reduce the amount of energy that your warehouse uses and decrease your running costs. By cutting down on energy use where possible, you will not only save money – but you will also cut down on greenhouse emissions!
Why Are Warehouses Expensive To Run?
Although not often considered, warehouses are one of the most expensive parts of a business to run. One of the biggest reasons for this is that most modern warehouses are incredibly large. This means they can be difficult to heat up, especially if the goods stored within require a certain temperature.
Managing heat inside a warehouse can be tricky – do you rely on a costly air conditioning system or risk losing heat rapidly? Finding a way to keep your warehouse heated without the need for air-con systems can truly save you a large amount on your energy bills.
Heavy machinery is also extremely common within warehouses, which can require high amounts of energy consumption to keep on running. Sorting and distribution machinery are some of the highest energy users in the business world.
It can be difficult to reduce energy consumption associated with warehouse machinery as they require high amounts of energy to maintain performance. However, green energy and cheaper suppliers are both great ways to lower costs and reduce your overall energy costs.
If you’re struggling to find a supplier that can offer you a cheap but renewable source, we may be able to help you. We work alongside a range of business electricity suppliers to help companies throughout the UK find a tariff that works for them!
Ways To Reduce Your Warehouse Energy Bills
Install Energy-Efficient Lights
As most warehouses are extremely large, they generally require a range of bright and powerful lights to keep them illuminated. This is also incredibly vital for security as working in the dark can be extremely dangerous, especially where heavy goods are concerned.
A great way to keep security high and your warehouse illuminated is by choosing to install energy-saving lights. The most efficient options out there are as powerful as their power-hungry counterpoints but use a fraction of the energy they do.
This can be a fantastic way to lower your warehouse energy prices and reduce your overall energy waste. Lighting costs can be some of the highest energy associated costs out there, so cutting down your bills can be a great decision.
You can also consider using a natural light source such as skylights. However, these aren’t the ideal option for working at night as they rely solely on sunlight.
Make Use of All The Space
When it comes to efficiency, one of the best ways you can make the most of your energy consumption is to use as much of the space within your warehouse as possible. If there are multiple large free spaces, then you will be paying to heat empty spots.
Although this isn’t necessarily a way to lower the general cost of your energy, it is an incredible energy management method. Efficiency is key when it comes to ensuring you get the most out of the energy consumed by your warehouse.
Where possible, try to stack goods together and make the most out of the space inside your warehouse. This way you can make sure that you aren’t paying high costs on your energy tariff just to heat a warehouse that is only half-full.
Add Motion Sensors To Lighting
Keeping your lights on constantly may help you find your way around your warehouse, but it can also quickly sap energy. This will lead to extremely high energy costs and lower the overall energy efficiency of your business.
Motion sensors are a common way to help keep the lights on when they are needed, whilst lowering your overall energy consumption. By adding motion sensors to your lighting fixtures, your lights will switch off when the room is empty and only turn back on if movement is detected.
As this will reduce your energy consumption, it will also lower your warehouse’s carbon emissions. Be sure to consider adding motion sensors to lights for significant savings on your next energy bill!
Consider Heat Pumps
Heating efficiency is key to keeping your warehousing and logistics services running without spending a fortune. Heat pumps are one of the best ways you can keep your warehouse heated without massively increasing your energy usage.
As the name suggests, a heat pump will constantly pump hot air into a room and cold air out – Or vice versa depending on your needs. They are an excellent energy-saving way to keep the temperature of your warehouse controlled.
Switch To Renewable Energy
With an increase in energy demand in recent years and thus a reliance on fossil fuels, energy has never been as expensive as it is today. Thankfully, most energy suppliers are finding ways to generate their own renewable energy.
Switching to a renewable source is incredibly energy efficient and can truly lower your carbon footprint. On top of this, business gas and energy suppliers also tend to charge slightly less for green energy sources as they are not finite.
You can also consider installing a renewable source onto your business premises that can be used to power your warehouse. Solar panels and small-scale wind turbines are some of the best ways you can lower your energy costs
Improve Warehouse Insulation
A large percentage of your energy costs will be associated with keeping your business properties and warehouse heated. Heating is one of the biggest energy guzzlers out there, and can truly hike up your energy consumption.
Insulation is a cheap and energy-free way to keep your warehouse heated. This removes the reliance on energy use and makes a perfect alternative to air conditioning. Where possible, you will want to avoid air-con systems as they generally lack energy efficiency.
It may seem a little dated, but insulating warehouse walls and ensuring heat cannot escape is still incredibly effective. With so many new energy-saving measures out there, insulation is still one of the best!
Compare Warehouse Energy Deals At Business Energy UK
Keeping your warehouse machinery running and the building itself doesn’t need to be expensive, especially if you can find a reliable supplier. However, with so many suppliers out there offering a range of tariffs, it can be hard to find the ideal one for your warehouse needs.
ere at Business Energy UK, we show you the best business suppliers in the UK and what deals they can provide. Then, we help you find a supplier that offers fantastic energy performance at an affordable cost – you could see your bills decrease when you choose a new business energy supplier with us!
Using our online comparison tool, you can compare suppliers in your area in less than 60 seconds. Simply input the postcode of your warehouse, and our system will sort through suppliers so you can quickly find the perfect one for you.
