Warehouses are vital pillars of a supply chain model for any company that relies on the distribution of a product from one location to another. Although companies may own or lease spaces, the need for an efficient warehouse has become more essential than ever before.
Large warehouse spaces have seen a surge in demand over the last 5 years owing to double digit ecommerce sales growth, higher product return rate, rationalization of warehousing capacity in favor of well-located hubs and consolidation of smaller units. This trend is further strengthened with the uncertainty around coronavirus and the long-term behavioral shifts in consumer habits therein. This prediction is evidenced with giants like Amazon ramping up hiring and operations for their US warehouses.
Maintaining the proper environment for warehouses requires multiple decisions. What is stored in the warehouses and how the buildings are used is what makes every warehouse different from others. Some need to maintain low temperature for products requiring cold storage while for other warehouses, humidity is an issue. In a warehouse that serves as a distribution center, ventilation is important.
Temperature Control Problems in Warehouses
One of the biggest maintenance requirements of warehouses is temperature control. When the temperature rises in summer or drops in winter it can damage the inventory and damaged stocks can lead to unsatisfied customers. Extreme cold also has other issues/problems, including exposing employees to cold-related illnesses.
Maintaining the warehouse temperature (heat or cold depending on the requirement) is complicated because of its large volume and common open points like large doors and windows that cause air leaks.
Air Ventilation in Warehouses
It can be difficult to keep warehouses well ventilated, but proper ventilation is critical for workers. Ventilation needs also include removing hazardous fumes. Understanding the importance of ventilation can help you know where you need to make changes in the warehouse.
Energy bills
It is reported that heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for about 30% of the total energy costs of operating a warehouse. It takes a lot of energy to conventionally heat or cool a large warehouse. A common problem with warehouses is that most of the heat or cold is wasted due to its extra space.
How HVAC can solve your Heating/Cooling and Ventilation problems
With the advanced technology, modern HVAC systems are highly efficient now. It is not necessary to air condition the whole warehouse; it should be directed to the areas that need it the most, which also include places most frequently used by employees. But how does the HVAC system know where the employees are most of the time? The answer is “smart sensors”.
Smart sensors are designed to monitor employees through motion and heat signatures. Working together with smart thermostats, the sensors send signals about which areas to heat or cool (depending on the preference), and when to do so. Smart thermostats are highly programmable and can operate automatically. They switch the warehouse heaters off when there is no one in the warehouse, resulting in significant savings in energy bills.
Upgrading to a modern HVAC system can have a lot of other benefits such as reduced carbon emissions, increased lifespan of the system with minimum maintenance, consistency in the air quality, higher return on investment, and operating an environment conscious business.
How can we help?
Designing and building a warehouse can be a tedious job and requires experience. Design Everest provides a one-stop solution for all kinds of designing and engineering services for a warehouse across California. Contact us now and we will provide you a FREE Consultation with a quote. We also provide virtual on-sites and virtual consultations.
