Warehouse Cost Reduction – Through Solar Panels

Your warehouse roof may just be one of the next best cost reduction potentials, reducing costs and improving the company’s carbon foot print through green logistics. 

GM has partnered with a subsidiary of Constellation Energy to use solar panels on top of their 300,000 square foot warehouse in Fontana, California.  The solar panels will generate 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.  The power from the solar panels will not only provide half of the electricity required to run the warehouse, but also supply the extra power back to the grid.  GM will not own or operate these solar panels but will benefit from the reduced costs and reduced carbon footprint.  GM believes the solar panels will yield a 10% savings in electricity costs and a 355 metric ton reduction of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

GM is not the only company installing solar panels on their warehouses.  Costco Wholesale Corp is putting solar panels on two warehouses in Hawaii and two in California.  Wal-Mart is installing solar panels at 22 store locations in both Hawaii and California.  Safeway plans to install 23 sites in California with solar panels.  Macy’s is planning on 26 stores in California to have solar panels.

Large companies are reducing their carbon footprint in California and Hawaii by installing solar panels to provide power to their facilities.