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Environmental

Sustainability is good for business. Understanding EPA regulations and eco-friendly technologies can give your company an edge. These posts explore topics related to environmental stewardship.

Topics

  • IIoT Security for Electrical Wholesalers: Mitigating the Risks of Industry 4.0

    Every week, more low-cost sensors, devices, and analytics platforms hit the market. This is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) — industrial equipment that tracks its own data, connects to a network, and transforms information into insight. And IIoT isn’t limited to high-profile use cases like smart manufacturing or asset tracking in the supply chain. It can also help electrical... Continue Reading

  • Industrial Cable Spools and Cable Reels: Choosing Reels and Cable Handling Equipment

    In most industries, the terms “cable spool,” “cable reel,” and “cable drum” are used interchangeably.  Some manufacturers use “reel” to refer to the full unit, while “spool” refers to what’s left behind after the cable has been exhausted. For others, a “spool” refers to smaller units — for instance, data cables — while “reel” refers to larger drums. Regardless of... Continue Reading

  • Root Cause Analysis for Reducing Material Loss in Manufacturing

    Recognizing process failures is a key step in adopting the practices of lean manufacturing. Organizations must constantly look for inefficiencies that affect throughput, but in a busy facility, identifying the root causes of those issues can be difficult. Whether or not your operation has committed to a lean approach, a manufacturing root cause analysis can be extraordinarily beneficial, particularly when... Continue Reading

  • The Semi-Automated Warehouse: A Task-Based Approach to Automation

    Warehouse automation is a major trend in the logistics industry, but the fact is that around 80 percent of fulfillment centers have yet to begin an automation journey. Maybe that’s because we tend to discuss automation as an all-or-nothing proposition; either you commit to smart warehousing with a greenfield construction or you’re stuck with manual order picking forever. This approach... Continue Reading

  • Energy Savings for Green Warehousing Operations

    Whether you run a warehouse, a cold-storage facility, or a regional distribution center, odds are you’re pursuing aggressive sustainability goals. The fastest way to reduce your business’ carbon footprint is to invest in energy efficiency — and that doesn’t necessarily mean costly redesigns. Here are a few ways you can cut your warehouse energy bill while also contributing to a... Continue Reading

  • Lead-Acid Batteries Most Recycled Item in the U.S.

    Sustainability-minded warehouse operators have another strong reason to choose electric forklifts over their internal-combustion counterparts. Lead-acid batteries are the most-recycled item in the United States. We already know that lead-acid batteries have a near 100-percent recycling rate. But a 2017 study from Battery Council International and Essential Energy Everyday found that this makes the humble lead-acid battery the most-recycled item... Continue Reading

  • Green Supply Chain Management for Electricians

    It’s hard to create a more sustainable electrical firm without cleaning up the supply chain while you’re at it. But how can electricians make the move toward a green supply chain? First, of course, it’s helpful to have a working definition of “green” in the context of supply chain management in the electrical industry. According to an early paper on... Continue Reading

  • Green Manufacturing: Understanding the Basics

    Just as economic development depends on a strong manufacturing sector, sustainable development depends on green manufacturing. You’ve probably heard the term in the industrial press, or even the mainstream news. But what exactly do we mean by green manufacturing? The sponsors of the 2008 Green Manufacturing Expo offer this definition. Green manufacturing is: The creation of manufactured products that use... Continue Reading

  • Mulch and Soil Recycling for Landscapers

    At a certain point in any landscaping company’s growth, it becomes more profitable to produce mulch and topsoil in-house. Initial costs amount to capital investments that can start producing a return within just a few seasons. Even better, landscapers who produce their own soil products can avoid the inevitable bottlenecks that accompany late shipments from third-party producers. Manufacturing topsoil and... Continue Reading

  • USDA FSIS Regulations and Forklifts in Food-Handling Applications

    Within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is tasked with keeping unsafe food products — particularly meat, poultry, and eggs — out of the U.S. food supply chain. The FSIS carries the weight of law and conducts inspections of food-handling and processing operations to make sure they’re not at risk of spreading foodborne illness.... Continue Reading

  • Seamlessly Transitioning to Electric Power for Forklifts

    By 2014, over half of the forklifts in the United States had already made the shift to electric power. Only 36 percent of the U.S. forklift market stuck with fossil fuels that year. Reluctance to make the switch to a greener, more cost-effective source of motive power usually boils down to two things: anxiety about higher up-front costs and fear... Continue Reading

  • TCLP Analysis: How Environmental Regulators Test Your Battery Wastewater

    If you’re washing your forklift batteries (and you are washing them, right?) then you’re also producing hazardous waste. Battery wash water contains traces of sulfuric acid and toxic metals that the EPA regulates heavily. In order to avoid enormous fines and possibly even criminal charges, every facility manager should understand exactly how the EPA goes about determining whether your wastewater... Continue Reading

  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Compliance for Forklift Fleets

    What does your forklift fleet have to do with federal waste disposal laws? It could be more than you think. If you run a fleet of electric forklifts, you probably also follow a detailed maintenance plan for your batteries. That plan should include regular washing, and the water you use to wash your batteries is a form of hazardous waste.... Continue Reading

  • 5 Facts You Should Know About the RCRA ‘Cradle-to-Grave’ Law

    When you wash your forklift batteries, the used water becomes a whole new legal entity: hazardous waste. Contaminated with acid and heavy metals, that battery wash water is now subject to the complex regulations laid out in the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The most famous element of the RCRA is Subtitle C, which establishes controls for hazardous... Continue Reading

  • Why Wastewater Disposal Is An Essential Part of Forklift Battery Maintenance

    To keep your forklift batteries running efficiently, you have to wash them periodically. But maintenance procedures don’t stop there — you must also make provisions to safely dispose of runoff from the washing process. Failing to do so could subject your business to massive EPA fines, or even land you in jail. Facility managers who are new to electric equipment... Continue Reading

  • Protecting Against Battery Spills for a More Eco-Friendly Facility

    Rechargeable forklift batteries are the greenest source of motive power available. Electric forklifts produce far fewer greenhouse gasses than lift trucks powered by internal combustion, and they eliminate the need for engine fluid changes. Most importantly, they’re safer for workers and almost entirely recyclable — in fact, most of the lead used in forklift batteries is recycled. Still, the amount... Continue Reading

  • Understanding LEED Certification and Forklift Battery Rooms

    With the introduction of 2013’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Version 4 (LEED v4), it is less complex than ever for U.S. warehouses and distribution centers to obtain certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification provides numerous operational benefits, including lower energy costs and eligibility for governmental incentive programs. Measures of sustainability such as LEED certification are... Continue Reading

  • Going Green in the Lift Truck Battery Room

    The first Earth Day was celebrated 45 years ago. In honor of this global environmental movement, BHS is focusing our April blogging on going green in the lift truck battery room. Our blogs touch on reducing energy consumption, recycling wastewater, preventing acid spills, LEED certification, and more. The blogs will also point you toward various BHS products that can help your... Continue Reading

  • Building a Green Warehouse with Better Battery Handling Practices

    Environmental sustainability in warehousing is more than a socially conscious trend; it is quickly becoming an industry-wide mandate. Green warehousing has reached the mainstream, as is evident from recent sustainable storage facility commitments from major corporations such as Walmart Canada and Goodyear. Energy efficiency consultants often focus on the most visible ways to reduce consumption, emphasizing high-efficiency lighting, solar panels... Continue Reading

  • Green Battery Washing Practices for an Eco-Friendly Storage Facility

    Of all the forklift battery maintenance tasks required to keep a fleet running at peak efficiency, battery washing may pose the greatest environmental challenge overall. Battery wash wastewater is heavily contaminated with a variety of pollutants, including: Sulfuric Acid Lead Copper Rust (Iron Oxide) Particles Dirt and Organic Matter In order to comply with green initiatives (along with federal, state... Continue Reading