Earth is changing faster than expected. What do I mean by this? Climate change has actually worsened, contrary to the myth that the world is cooling down. Scientists, together with political factions, are devising ways to prevent it, but it seems like nothing is working. Just last week, a research team has discovered that there was some sort of heat rising from the Arctic Ocean’s depths, and it is about as hot as the heat coming from the sun. This heat has roused small turbulent streams that are actually “bringing water as warm as 6C to depths shallower than 50m”. And according to the team, this heat “could accelerate ice melt”. If you have no idea how grave the situation could lead to, go see The Day After Tomorrow.

It is indeed a burden to stop this phenomena that is slowly disrupting our beloved planet. People see it as nature’s revenge for our negligent and selfish practices. But who are we to blame, but ourselves. Therefore the change should also come from us. Every small act of environment preservation will lead to great impact on our planet’s welfare.

For starters, manufacturers, exporters, importers, wholesalers and other businesses that make use of warehouses should start thinking green in terms of the way these warehouses are built. By turning green, a facility can reduce its carbon footprint and save up on energy costs. But is it easy to do so? More so, won’t it hurt our pockets?

Here are some economic ways on how to turn your warehouses green.

1. Use solar light tubes to increase natural lighting.

Utilizing natural light cuts down costs on energy. But since massive renovation is needed to be made in order to fully access natural light, solar tubes provide an alternative option without having to go on major reconstruction. Solar light tubes are of highly-reflective material and acts as an avenue for natural light to pass through. Installing these tubes doesn’t have to cut through the entire roof, so it’s very practical.

2. Cool your roof.

To lessen the amount of heat absorbed by a building, warehouses can opt to have a “cool roof” which is done by putting a coat of paint that is specifically made and used to reflect heat off. Doing the same thing on the roofs of air conditioning units decreases the temperature, boosts proficiency of these units, and cuts down on the use of energy in cooling the whole building.

3. Use fluorescent or induction lighting.

Instead of using the traditional metal halide light fixtures, it would be better to use fluorescent lights, as these lights use about 50% less energy. Another alternative, although more costly, is induction lighting, which offers 40% proficiency over fluorescents.

4. Set up a controllable thermostat.

Most warehouses do not have a thermostat. What warehouse managers could do is to have thermostats installed in it so that the temperature is regulated, therefore minimizing energy use for cooling and heating.

5. Invest in lighting sensors.

Motion-activated lighting sensors are a great way to save up on energy, since light will only be turned on when a person triggers the sensors. Most warehouses are often over-lit with artificial light, and installing lighting sensors will actually trim expenses on energy and lessen energy use.

Warehouses also contain racks, which are used to store goods that are transported. Considering the warehouse racking system in the Philippines, steel racks are employed, as this type of rack is cheap and is very environment-friendly. So on that note, the use of steel racks can also be viewed as an affordable way to turn your warehouse green.

In the rapid increase of climate change, we should all be able to contribute a little something to ease it. Even for our warehouses. A little something goes a long way.