Mouser's expansion honoured as Most Intelligent DC Building

The new 416,000-square-foot, three-story building has been recognised as a pioneer in the field of Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, as not only the largest installation of this system but also the first to intermingle fixtures on the system for a large commercial scale.

"We are very excited to receive the IBCon 2024 Digie Award for our conservation efforts to reduce energy consumption while continuing our mission of serving our global customers with best-in-class speed, quality, and service," said Pete Shopp, Mouser Electronics' Senior Vice President of Business Operations. "The new PoE lighting fixtures we've put in place in our distribution centre not only provide state-of-the-art lighting for our employees, but it also will help us reduce our energy usage over the long term."

As an ISO 14001:2015 certified company for its environmental management system, Mouser adheres to high environmental standards and sustainability efforts. Shopp said the company's dedication to environmental responsibility and adoption of innovative technologies played a role in the decision to incorporate PoE lighting, a technology for delivering DC power to devices over copper Ethernet cabling without the need for separate power supplies or outlets.

"Mouser often rearranges their warehouse space to accommodate growth and technology upgrades. Other facilities with conventional lighting require hiring an electrical contractor whenever they need to make a change," said Rhiannon Jones, PE for Baird, Hampton, and Brown (BHB), which helped design the system. "Powering high-bay fixtures in a conventional system also requires larger 10 AWG wiring and conduit. The smaller Ethernet cables and the 'no conduit' of a PoE lighting system translates to less material and an even lower carbon footprint."

Mouser, which is celebrating 60 years, has recently expanded its Global Distribution Centre to meet the needs of its flourishing business well into the next decade. The new addition boasts more than one thousand PoE lighting fixtures, including high-bay lighting throughout the main facility and a combination of recessed downlights and linear lighting.

Occupancy sensors in each fixture optimise energy use, while data-driven centralised control and management allow for adjusting lights and tracking energy consumption. The reduced material, labour, and maintenance associated with PoE lighting further lowers Mouser's energy usage while cutting operational costs.

Mouser extends its appreciation to its vendors BHB, Trico, Sinclair Digital, and Polarity Networks, which helped design and construct the new PoE lighting system.