If you are the facility manager of an industrial building or a warehouse, then you have many things that you are responsible for. Everything needs to be kept running smoothly. However, you will need to keep everything organized and clean. In today’s increasingly eco-conscious world, your job is even more difficult.
So how can your building be kept clean while also being conscious about its environmental impacts? The following are five ideas that can help with keeping your industrial space green and clean:
1. Make Investments In Drainage Upgrades
Most warehouses have some form of a drainage system. They are inside of the building at times for cleaning and handling spills. Then at other times, they are on the outside to deal with rainwater. No matter what the function or location is, a drainage system is an essential component to keep your industrial space safe and clean.
Quite often, traditional gate drains are difficult to clean and heavy, which leads to mold and the buildup of gunk. An increasing number of facilities are choosing to use trench drains. A grate is not needed with trench drains, and they are easy to clean. There are also traffic trench drains that are available for the exterior, so they can be used by the interior of the warehouse.
Given how easy it is to clean trench drains, it makes them a greener and superior option. Harsh chemicals don’t need to be used for keeping trench drains. Also, they are made from stainless steel, which is a recyclable and sustainable material. Upgrading is an easy way to keep things green and clean.
2. Use Heavy-Duty Industrial Vacuums At All Times
A majority of facility managers are aware that one of the most critical components to keeping warehouses clean is industrial vacuum cleaners. Sweeping and standard vacuums are insufficient. If you are not using heavy-duty vacuums currently, make the change. It is safer in addition to being more effective.
Although heavy-duty vacuums do not make you think immediately of energy efficiency, there are plenty of greener options available in the market. Pneumatic vacuums operate on compressed air instead of electricity. This lowers the risk of combustion and reduces energy usage as well. A HEPA industrial vacuum is another option. This type of vacuum traps very small particles inside the filters, so the air quality is kept very clean.
So make sure you use an industrial vacuum while searching for options that are more eco-friendly.
3. Seal the Floor Properly
If you work in a warehouse, then most likely you are very familiar with concrete floors. For industrial spaces, the top flooring choice is concrete since they are easy to maintain and clean. As you probably already know, you need to properly seal concrete in order for it to be low-maintenance and stay clean.
Sealing concrete ensures the floor doesn’t absorb stains. it also locks out moisture, which maintains the flooring’s integrity. Given that concrete is a very popular flooring option, there is an entirely new line of green, eco-friendly sealers that offer all of the benefits without using harmful chemicals.
So, make sure to seal the floor so that it is easy to clean everything and use greener sealants. Make sure to also remove the old sealer out of the concrete before the new sealer is applied.
4. Use a Permeable Paving System
Keeping the parking lot maintained is one of the biggest challenges for the outside of the building. If you are in an area with heavy rains, this is particularly true. Puddles and standing water not only can be a nuisance but can be dangerous as well and damage equipment and parking lots.
As previously mentioned, trench drainage systems are a great solution for dealing with the buildup of rainwater. However, there is another solution available for dealing with parking lot paving. Consider using permeable pavers instead of asphalt. These pavers are very porous and therefore the ground absorbs the water. Water is not absorbed by traditional types of parking lot materials and creates puddles and collects water instead. This type of paver is eco-friendly as well since a natural water cycle is important and allows water to permeate into the ground. These pavers also eliminate pollutants from the water which creates a cleaner ground ecosystem as well.
5. Upgrade Your Lighting
Industrial spaces have many lights. It is nearly impossible to keep a dimly lit warehouse clean. If one of your priorities is keeping everything clean, then keep your space adequately lit throughout. However, don’t use any old bulbs.
Switch over to using energy-efficient lights such as LED bulbs or compact fluorescent lights. Compared to traditional bulbs, these alternative bulbs only use around one-fifth of the power. Also, consider making all of your warehouse lights motion-activated while you’re at it. Visit Aircada.com for energy-efficient and automated solutions.
Upgrading your lighting will reduce your use of energy and ultimately save on your electricity expenses. As an added bonus, also check out smart thermostats.
Author Bio: Shawn Mack is a content writer who offers ghostwriting, copy-writing, and blogging services. His educational background in business and technical field has given him a broad base from which to approach many topics. He is also fond of writing interesting articles on technology & digital marketing-related topics.
