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Energy efficiency is quickly moving to the top of business leaders’ agendas. Illustrating the private sector’s growing commitment to sustainability, more than two-thirds of U.S. executives expect their organizations’ investments in energy efficiency to increase in 2017.
Doubling down on alternative energy sources at any point in the supply chain doesn’t only benefit the environment – it’s a smart business strategy. Research shows that organizations can yield anywhere from a 27 to 81 percent internal rate of return on their low carbon investments.
Despite these positive results and organizations’ increasing action, there is ample room for improvement. By strategically developing industrial facilities (including distribution centers and warehouses) to accommodate alternative energy resources, supply chain organizations can:
With the cost of U.S. commercial solar infrastructure projected to decline over the next few years, industrial organizations are warming up to solar installations’ potential for energy savings. As a result, solar canopies – overhead, ground-mounted installations designed to cover parking areas – are a valuable addition to industrial properties. Compared to traditional rooftop solar panels or ground mounts, canopies eliminate the risk of roof damage and don’t require additional land for installation.
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Organization – Goodyear, AZ, Distribution Center
A leading supply chain management and in-fl ight service provider for the airline industry, is one organization that has tapped into the power of solar canopies. In August 2016, the company announced the development of a new 292,000 SF distribution center in Goodyear, AZ, featuring a solar canopy over its truck docks.
The canopy generates 144.9 kW of electrical energy, allowing the facility to reduce carbon emissions by more than 400 kg per day. Over 25 years, the canopy is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4,100 tons. With the canopy doubling as a carport, the organization can keep its diesel trucks out of the sun – helping improve the fuel efficiency of its fleet.
Hydrogen fuel cells – though less common than solar energy – are becoming an attractive resource for industrial organizations. The benefits of hydrogen fuels cells are numerous, from zero emissions and reliable power to 50 percent (or more) electric efficiency. In a distribution or warehouse setting, hydrogen fuel cells are a smart alternative for powering material handling vehicles (i.e., forklifts). With hydrogen technology, organizations can eliminate the need for time-consuming battery charging and save floor space often jeopardized by battery storage and charging stations.
Hardware Retailer Distribution Center – Wilmer, TX
Today, more than 11,000 fuel cell-powered forklifts are operated in North America, in facilities across 20 U.S. states – including a distribution center operated by one of the world’s largest hardware retailers in Wilmer, TX. The 450,262 SF facility, developed by CenterPoint Properties in 2014, features an on-site hydrogen generation and fueling station for material handling equipment.
Using Nuvera’s PowerTapTM technology, the system converts tap water and natural gas into hydrogen, which serves as a fuel source for the facility’s forklift equipment. The system allows the tenant to minimize its CO2 missions by approximately 70 tons and avoid around 330,115 kWh of annual electric consumption.
As sustainability becomes as much of a business issue as an environmental one, industrial organizations must find new ways to promote energy efficiency throughout their operations. By integrating alternative energy infrastructure into new and existing industrial properties, organizations stand to minimize their carbon footprints and maximize their cost-saving potential.
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