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held in ideal conditions. Goods held in sustainable warehouses are also more secure
since security systems are less likely to experience interruptions in electricity access.
2. Protect building from energy price volatility and supply shortages
Energy prices rise and fall according to consumer demand. Today, much of the
world is in the process of developing its infrastructure. Additionally, war and unstable
trading conditions can cause huge price increases and limit access to energy sources. For
instance, unstable conditions in the Middle East directly affect the world’s energy markets.
Rising energy prices can slow growth in developing countries. In some cases, price
increases can halt a country’s growth completely.
By generating power from alternative energy sources, sustainable warehouses shield
companies against the adverse effects of war and political uncertainty. They provide a
dependable energy supply in locations that previously lacked the resources needed to
stabilise its energy supply through traditional means.
3. Protect company from evolving energy efficiency incentives
Governmentmandates that regulate commercial buildings are becoming increasingly
strict where pollution is concerned. Current trends clearly indicate that operating
sustainable buildings will be the standard for commercial enterprise in the near future.
One such example of government-regulated changes into green operations is the Energy
and Performance of Buildings Directive issued in 2010 by the European Parliament and
the Building Council of the European Union. Some of the requirements mentioned in
this directive are:
• By 2020 all new buildings must be able to achieve “nearly zero energy”
results and must gain most of its energy supply from renewable resources.
• By the end of 2018 each new building owned or occupied by the public must
be nearly zero-energy buildings.
• By 2020, all buildings must get at least 20% of their energy supply from
renewable sources.
4. Improve company’s return on investment
There are several economic reasons why a company should consider moving
toward sustainable warehousing and distribution centres. Sustainable design provides
efficiency improvements and reduces operation cost over the lifetime of a building.
CDP’s annual report issued in 2011 stated the following:
Operating costs decrease by approximately 13.6% for new buildings and roughly
8.5% for existing buildings.
Occupancy of rates increase by 6.4% in sustainable buildings and increase by
2.5% in existing constructions.
5. Sustainable constructions inspire better overall performance
Reports from Global 500 companies show a positive correlation between negative
returns on equity and abandoning corporate social responsibility standards. Consequently,
one can easily understand how owning sustainable warehouses and distribution centres
can improve a company’s bottom line.