Green IMPERIAL Logistics’ landmark wins Enviro Award

IMPERIAL Logistics member company, IMPERIAL Cargo has won the Logistics Achiever Enviro Award 2011 for its ‘green’ national logistics hub in the Western Cape. Through this two year Greenfields project, the company designed and built a self-sufficient, green headquarters that has enabled clean, renewable energy usage at the site for the next 20 years.

“Clean energy solutions were used to design, engineer, install and commission a photovoltaic solar renewable green energy solutions to power the new headquarters, as an off grid project,” said IMPERIAL Cargo MD, Christo Theron. IMPERIAL Cargo has, at this point in time one of the largest photovoltaic installations in the province.

“The innovation that has been shown in bringing this self-sufficient logistics hub into reality has been exciting to be a part of. We have overcome all the challenges by taking lessons from our surrounding environment and harnessing our natural resources without wastage,” he said. “We have taken real costs out of our internal systems.”

Unparalleled solar power

What was a four hectare dumpsite is now a renewable energy landmark in the Logistics sector. The site comprises state-of-the-art offices for 120 employees, 2000 m² of warehousing, as well as wash bays and workshop facilities. “Solar power usage is an important element, together with the combined use of natural elements such as building orientation and natural ventilation and lighting,” added Theron.

Located between Paarl and Wellington, a region that experiences some of South Africa’s hottest summers and heaviest rainfall in winter, IMPERIAL Cargo has harnessed the power of each of these natural resources. The office building, for example runs on electricity generated by the CES solar system on the warehouse roof. All the technology used on site therefore runs on clean power, with the solar system being able to serve as a UPS for three days even if there is no sunlight for five days.

The technology used in the panels has the ability to work where there is reduced radiation, all the way through to direct sunlight. “Motion sensors tell the building where the people are, so lights get switched off in empty offices. On cold days when there is extra capacity within the solar system, the building switches off some air conditioning from outside grid power to the solar system,” he explained.

Critical water conservation

“Substantial water conservation was an imperative for us,” said Theron. “Over and above water cost savings generated by the on-site water treatment plant, the most critical saving lies in the reduction of water consumption and the limited amount of water that is contaminated and released back into the environment.”

An innovative water management system was designed specifically for the site. Through the system, IMPERIAL Cargo will replace significantly less water than the 50% which is expected from the municipality. Approximately only 1 m3 of water will be released into the municipal sewer per 30 m3 of water used per day. The rest will be recycled.

Investment in renewable energy infrastructure is one way in which IMPERIAL Logistics is leading the ‘green logistics evolution’. Marius Swanepoel, CEO of IMPERIAL Logistics concluded, “Such projects provide our industry with a blueprint, which through continuous measurement enables continuous improvement in our efficiencies – and lessens our impact on the environment.”

 About IMPERIAL Logistics
IMPERIAL Logistics is a global logistics and supply chain leader that moves business and industry through innovation, inspiration and foresight. Through its established Southern African and International divisions, IMPERIAL Logistics’ service delivery comprises fundamental logistics and end-to-end supply chain management solutions to blue chip customers in almost every industry. As a preferred logistics outsource provider, IMPERIAL Logistics positions itself as an extension of its customer’s business, building its customer’s brand alongside its own. IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa is a multi-branded business, categorised into five key divisions, namely Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight, Integration Services and Africa. IMPERIAL Logistics International comprises four operating units, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, IMPERIAL Reederei and Brouwer Shipping. For further information, please visit www.imperiallogistics.co.za

IMPERIAL Cargo
In addition to IMPERIAL Cargo, the IMPERIAL Cargo Group comprises four synergistic operating companies, namely IMPERIAL Cargo Namibia, Atlantis, Dekson Transport and National Transport Services. IMPERIAL Cargo provides line haul and local transportation and warehousing across South Africa and Namibia, including cross border transportation to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. The company also handles containers in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It has established expertise in transport broking, consolidation inter-modal transport and supply chain management. IMPERIAL Cargo also has access to a number of support service companies that offer integrated IT solutions, anti-hijacking and tracking services. For further information, please visit http://www.imperialcargowesterncape.co.za/. 

27th September 2011