Market Focus - Distribution Centers/Warehouses
Retail distribution centers use significant quantities of energy in unique ways. Because the loads are diverse it is difficult for facility managers to get a handle on steps to effectively reduce usage.
The diversity is attributed to discrete power users performing stand-alone functions including:
- Ventilation – roof top fans, industrial ceiling fans, spot circulation fans, air curtains and personal workspace fans
- Battery charging stations – central sites for lift trucks and spot chargers for special purpose equipment
- Air compressor stations - sizing and controls
- Lighting – high bay lights and task lighting
- Conveyor systems – motors and controls
- Cardboard compactors
- Office areas in the warehouse – HVAC
- Dock door illumination and fan ventilation
- External parking lot lighting, signage and wall illumination
- Office areas – HVAC, computers, copiers, break room refrigeration and cooking
- Cafeteria uses – refrigeration, microwave cooking, vending machines and TV's
- Space heaters – gas and electric
Burton Energy Group approaches distribution center optimization as a recommissioning exercise. Through site visits, including energy audits and facility manager interviews, we create an energy usage profile of the facility to identify areas with the highest potential payback. Where available, Burton obtains interval electric use data from the utility. If not available, installation of our own check/sub meters are installed. We have found that having interval data and performing routine analysis of that data is invaluable in managing usage at a distribution center. Our sustainability initiatives consider alternative energy projects, such as solar and fuel cells, along with participation in demand response programs.
Employee awareness is a key component of the Burton Energy approach to distribution center optimization. Education programs targeted to the associates arm the client with eyes and ears to identify energy waste on a continual basis. Associate meetings, recurring webinars on relevant energy topics, associate incentives to find waste, etc. keep the quest for waste elimination fresh.
By following this approach, one Burton client reduced energy consumption in their network of distribution centers by 13% via workforce awareness and education and over 30% when capital investment recommendations were implemented.
