bpost’s new distribution center in Evere, Belgium – the firm’s first carbon-neutral building – is now fully operational. It is equipped with a plethora of sustainable technologies including solar energy, heat pumps for heating and ventilation with energy recuperation, modular LED lighting, loading facilities and rainwater harvesting.
The new facility consolidates all of bpost’s operations in the region, bringing the teams from distribution centers in Schaarbeek, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre into one central location after the lease on the office in Schaarbeek expired.
Jos Donvil, CEO of bpost Belgium, explained, “When the lease on the Schaarbeek site was expiring, bpost was faced with the challenge of finding a new location that met the operational requirements of the fast-changing context of the letter and parcels market. The design naturally had to match bpost’s sustainability ambitions. We handle an increasing volume of parcels for which different standards and different operational requirements apply. We have no choice but to go all out on sustainability, so our new building had to fulfill the strictest relevant standards. We have been able to do that across the board with this new distribution center in Evere. So, I’m particularly proud for this to be our first 100% carbon-neutral building.”
Sustainable advantages
As well as consolidating all services, the Evere facility provides additional parking and loading facilities for bpost’s ever-growing electric fleet of 55 e-vans, 22 e-bikes and 22 e-trailers. There is also the possibility to expand the building or add additional loading and unloading docks depending on future needs.
The energy-efficient distribution center produces energy via solar panels installed on the roof, which is used to charge electric vehicles at the 100+ charging stations on-site. To reduce energy consumption, LED lighting in the main hall is automatically dimmed when employees leave, and all loading bays are equipped with two sets of doors to minimize heat loss.
The state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems ensure that no fossil fuels are consumed. Instead, heat pumps draw in ambient energy to heat the building in winter and cool it in summer, as needed. Meanwhile, innovative water management and rainwater harvesting systems ensure that the environmental impact remains limited.
For more information on the sustainability credentials of the new Evere site, click here.