Recommendations by Sector
WAREHOUSES
Energy Use
Overall, warehouses generally have lower illumination requirements as well as
lower space conditioning requirements than do other building types. Accordingly,
overall energy use is generally lower than for most other buildings. Warehouses
are often ventilated sporadically, only partially heated, and rarely cooled.
Energy for lighting is the largest use (68%), followed by ventilation and plug
loads (24%), and miscellaneous (8%). (For energy-efficiency strategies for
administrative areas, see Small Office Buildings.)
Measures that are frequently found to be cost-effective include the
following:
Lighting
- Incorporate skylights and photocell controls. Standard 4-foot by 8-foot
bubble skylights equal to 4 percent of the floor area are adequate in
Colorado’s sunny climate. Place skylights above warehouse isles to achieve
best daylighting distribution.
- Install photosensors and occupancy controls to control electric lighting,
and make sure they are carefully calibrated.
- Replace T-12 fixtures with T-8 or T-5 fixtures with electronic ballasts.
- Consider replacing metal halide and low-pressure sodium fixtures with T-5
fixtures.
- Provide task lighting controlled by occupancy sensors in narrow aisles to
more efficiently illuminate tall storage racks. Mount fluorescent fixtures on
storage racks to facilitate access to the storage aisles and avoid the need to
install extra fixtures at the ceiling level.
HVAC
- Control heating, ventilating, and cooling systems as a function of
occupancy and the needs of goods stored using automatic controls as
appropriate.
- Use variable-speed drives, high-efficiency motors, and cast aluminum fan
blades for ventilation fans, using demand control to adjust ventilation rates
as needed.
- Install gas-fired infrared heaters instead of forced-air convection
heating systems.
- If cooling is needed, install evaporative cooling systems in Colorado’s
dry climate.
Building Envelope
- Ensure that entry doors are weatherstripped and other sources of
infiltration are carefully air-sealed.
- In particularly warm climate areas, consider installing an ENERGY STAR
cool roof, even if the structure is not air conditioned, to improve comfort
for warehouse workers and keep products stored from becoming too hot.
Ventilating fans operating during cool nights can help control temperatures
during hot days.
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