Being eco-friendly is a hot topic right now and it doesn’t stop in the home. With everyone looking to reuse rather than recycle as well as cutting down on energy and water consumption, there are a number of things you can do within the warehouse to help keep your carbon footprint as low as possible.
One of the most effective ways of being environmentally-friendly in the warehouse is to switch out your diesel-powered machines for LPG alternatives. But what is it, why should you make the swap and what are the benefits of LPG-fuelled machines?
What is LPG?
LPG, liquid petroleum gas, is a combination of two different natural gases: propane and butane. LPG is colourless but exceptionally efficient when used to power a forklift. Stored in portable tanks, these are attached to the forklift in order for it to operate, but they’re very easy to replace and give off minimal emissions.
LPG, as the name would suggest, is liquified via moderate pressure and contained within gas bottles to ensure safe storage. They can be stored either outside or indoors and it’s relatively low-risk to keep in large numbers. This means you can purchase a large number of tanks at once with absolute peace of mind.
Although LPG is environmentally-friendly, it’s still very much considered to be a fossil fuel. By definition, a fossil fuel is ‘natural’ fuel, much like coal. This particular gas has been formed in the geological past meaning it’s made up of the remains of previously living organisms. Fossil fuel examples include the following materials:
- Coal
- Natural gas
- Petroleum
As such, LPG can be considered a ‘green’ form of energy as its original source is derived from natural resources. Considered to be a ‘clean’ fuel, LPG doesn’t release any harmful gases into the atmosphere, so by choosing an LPG forklift, you’ll be giving off minimal levels of carbon dioxide meaning there’ll also be low risk of contamination.
Benefits of LPG forklifts
LPG-powered machinery is becoming increasingly popular in this day and age, but being eco-friendly isn’t the only advantage to choosing this particular fuel type. Some of the other benefits include the following:
- LPG products can be used continuously with maximum efficiency
- You won’t have to spend time waiting for the machine to recharge or refuel
- Some LPG models have impressive lifting capacities, ranging from 1,500-10,000kg
- LPG forklifts have the ability to lift the heaviest of goods with absolute ease
Why is it important to be eco-friendly in the warehouse?
Global warming and climate change are prominent threats to the planet, so ensuring you’re minimising your carbon footprint as much as possible is paramount. Whilst opting for LPG-powered forklifts and other pieces of machinery is a step in the right direction, there are other things that can be done to reduce your environmental impact, including:
- Investing in double glazing
- Insulating your premises
- Putting skylights in the roof to allow for maximum daylight and sunshine
- Having recycling bins around the warehouse
- Running car-share initiatives
- Reusing greywater and rainwater to flush toilets, for example
- Bringing your own lunch to work rather than buying it from the shop
- Buying eco-friendly food and drink items, such as plastic-free tea bags
Hire Forklifts are proud to provide forklift hire contracts and warehouse equipment rental services to customers throughout the UK. We have a wide range of high-calibre machinery available, all of which are rigorously tested to ensure maximum safety at all times. With flexible options available and reliable and transparent agreements drawn up, you can always count on your specialist team to meet your every requirement, regardless of your budget. For more information about the forklift hire and warehouse equipment hire we have to offer, get in touch with a member of our professional team today – we’re always happy to help.
