Warehouse
As large spaces with lighting and heating requirements, warehouses can have significant energy costs. Warehouse owners and managers can manage those costs by installing high-efficiency equipment and by connecting zone controls that help deliver lighting, heating, and cooling only where they’re needed. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for a variety of efficiency measures.
Lighting
Lighting controls and LED installations can improve safety and productivity while reducing energy use and cost
An Efficiency Maine study found that indoor lighting accounted for 65% of the electricity consumption in Maine warehouses. Upgrading high- and low-bay lights to LEDs can significantly reduce this electricity consumption. Warehouse managers may also find that these changes reduce maintenance costs as long-lasting LEDs need to be replaced far less frequently than the metal halide bulbs.
In addition, warehouses typically have significant opportunities to save with lighting controls. Lighting zones can be tied to dimming or occupancy controls to reduce overlighting in spaces not in use. These controls can be tied to warehouse activity for even greater synergies between usage patterns and lighting. New warehouse construction may also benefit from daylighting. Efficiency Maine incentivizes high-efficiency lighting, including:
- Indoor Lighting
- Outdoor Lighting
- Lighting Controls
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
Save money and energy with room-heating systems for zone by zone temperature control
On average, HVAC systems account for 15% of electricity use in Maine warehouses. By upgrading to controls that allow zone-by-zone temperature control, warehouses can reduce energy costs and ensure the comfort of staff. For example, heating and cooling systems with controls or demand control ventilation may be modulated to meet occupancy and temperature requirements. Offices and break rooms, which are more frequently used and may need to be kept at a different temperature, may benefit from a room-heating solution, like a ductless heat pump. Warehouse spaces might also benefit from solar ventilation preheating and heat destratification.
Efficiency Maine offers incentives to upgrade to high-efficiency systems including:
- Ductless Heat Pumps
- HVAC Controls and Demand Control Ventilation
- Infrared Natural Gas Heaters
Plug Loads
Managing plug loads is another significant electricity-saving opportunity for Maine warehouse spaces. According to a 2015 Efficiency Maine study, plug loads represented 14% of electricity consumption in warehouses. Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR® certified equipment when next updating office equipment, which is 30-75% more efficient than standard equipment. Warehouse operators may have other opportunities to reduce plug-load demand for specialized equipment such as electric forklifts. There may be opportunities to power down some equipment when not in use.
Custom Solutions
Don’t see your energy solution listed above? Efficiency Maine also offers incentives for customized, site-specific energy solutions, including, refrigerated storage, building envelope upgrades, combined heat and power installations, and more. Click here for more information on the Custom Program.
Get Started
- Ready to upgrade your warehouse with high-efficiency equipment? Work with an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner in order to be eligible for these incentives. Click here to find a Qualified Partner working near you. If you work with a contractor that is not yet a Qualified Partner, urge your contractor to find out more information here.
Additional Information and Resources
- Warehouse Low-Cost Operations and Maintenance Checklist from Energy Star.