Sustainable Solutions for SCM

Figure 6.8 Percentage of green labelled buildings in different branches [5] Compared to offices or retailing facilities warehouses still have potential to get greener. 6.4.4 Reducing the environmental impact of warehouses The development of a sustainable warehouse can be developed in the micro-level and macro level perspective. The micro-level perspective contains the uses of resources in terms of energy, water, land and buildings. The macro-level perspective covers the land use, the environment and the ecology. To get an energy efficient warehouse the following aspects have to be taken in consideration: • Lighting level. • Lighting equipment. • Heating level. In addition to energy efficiency, the source of the energy supply has also to be changed from the conventional one. All equipment in a warehouse has to be specified to use energy-saving technology. For the energy supply, all kinds of renewable energy like biomass, solar or wind energy and heat pumps are possible. This will result in decreasing the CO 2 -emissions. From a green warehouse to a sustainable warehouse, social aspects and a holistic management approach in terms of energy, resources like material, workers and the neighbourhood must also be regarded [7]. • Control of air changes. • Battery maintenance. • Efficient internal transport.

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