greenlogistics
BY PETER BRADLEY, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
LEED IN DC DESIGN/RETROFIT
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For DCs struggling with high energy costs,
green retrofits may be the answer.
FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS—RISING FUEL COSTS, CONCERNS
about global warming, a national goal of energy independence, emerging
regulations—energy-conservation initiatives are getting plenty of attention
in the logistics and distribution world. And the focus isn’t just on trucks, planes,
and trains; warehouses and distribution centers are coming under scrutiny as well.
The reasons aren’t hard to understand. A rambling, poorly insulated structure with
high ceilings and an inefficient lighting system is likely to leak energy like a sieve. And if its
occupants leave dock doors open or unused conveyors and equipment running, so much
the worse.
Stanching the losses doesn’t have to mean razing the facility and building a new,
energy-efficient one in its place. Many times, DCs can cut their energy bills simply by
adjusting their operations to use energy more efficiently and investing in some well-chosen retrofits.
As for what kind of retrofits, the biggest opportunities for distribution facilities will
likely be in motors, heating and cooling, and lighting, says David Voynow, a marketing
manager for logistics, cranes and hoists, and material handling for Schneider Electric,
an international energy management specialist. Cutting power consumption in these
areas could be as simple as adding insulation or as complex as installing sophisticated energy management systems or “cool roofs.” Granted, all of these options carry some upfront costs.
But an investment in energy-saving equipment or technology is likely to pay for itself many
times over in the years to come.
LEED by example
So where to begin? One good place is the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit
organization that promotes sustainable building practices. Although best known for its LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program for new building design
and construction, the council offers a parallel certification for existing buildings. Called “LEED for
Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Certification,” the program, which was revised earlier
this year, recognizes businesses for physical or operational improvements that conserve “energy, water, and
natural resources; improve the indoor environment; and uncover operating inefficiencies.”
Although the time, cost, and effort required may deter companies from pursuing LEED certification, facility managers can still use the program’s rating system and checklists as reference guides. For example, USGBC
offers on its Web site an operations and maintenance projects checklist that covers everything from water efficiency to energy and atmosphere to indoor environmental quality to innovations in operations. (USGBC also
offers workshops, online courses, and webinars on LEED. To see what it offers, visit www.usgbc.org/education.)
It’s important to note that LEED for Existing Buildings is a broad-based certification program that’s perhaps tailored more to office buildings than industrial sites. “LEED is just not built around DCs,” warns Dean
Monnin, a senior project manager in the Columbus, Ohio, office of international real estate developer Jones
Lang LaSalle. But that can work to a DC’s advantage, he adds. For example, a DC might have an easier time
achieving a base certification than an office building might because large portions of the facility aren’t air con-
