It's A Golden Age To Go Green With Your Self-Storage Business, And Here's How
We live in an age where two-thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-conscious products. As environmentally friendly operations go, self-storage facilities at least seem like they’ve got it right. After all, this is a business model quite literally founded on the idea of reducing waste. Without self-storage units, it’s certainly safe to say there’d be a lot more waste in landfills right now!
Unfortunately, when you look at self-storage businesses through a green gaze, it’s also plain to see that there are flaws in traditional models. Self-storage units are typically accessible 24/7, for instance, and are responsible for burning a significant amount of energy. Then there are the levels of waste these companies typically produce, as well as the need for things like always-on heating.
But all is not lost. Self-storage companies that already have an eco upper hand can easily turn to methods that will create a more sustainable business. In this article, we’ll consider how your self-storage company can go green for good.
A Focus on Building Design
The majority of self-storage companies operate from within intrinsically green commercial steel buildings, which can be easily removed and recycled, at a moment’s notice. This is great news from a sustainability standpoint, but it’s possible to take that even further.
This is especially true from an insulation standpoint, when in-built insulation methods can reduce the need for HVAC systems that are always on full power. Equally, making the most of natural lighting with large windows can reduce the need for bright strip lighting throughout the day. These may seem like simple steps, but thinking about them from the moment you decide to pursue a self-storage setup can lead to significant financial savings and, more importantly, truly sustainable operations.
Automated Energy Savings
Self-storage units tend to operate on 24/7 self-serve models as standard, meaning that strip lights may be on all night. Equally, most competitive self-storage companies offer continual heating services to keep client belongings in top condition.
These are crucial offerings in the industry, but they come at a steep environmental cost. Luckily, that’s a cost you can easily overcome by using automated energy functions. Something as simple as sensor-led LED lighting can slash energy outputs overnight. Equally, HVAC systems that automatically turn off once individual units reach a certain temperature can make a world of difference to heating bills and usage, thus creating a more sustainable business and reducing costs.
Waste-Reduction Initiatives
Self-storage units that often provide packing materials to their clients can be guilty of wasteful practices. The use of fully recycled cardboard is the most obvious way around this, as are recycling programs and composting initiatives.
Many self-storage companies also find it beneficial to introduce a ‘box-for-life’ strategy, which means that any broken client boxes are immediately replaced with recycled options on-site. This minimizes the risk of poorly-sourced, brand new boxes company-wide.
Takeaway
Self-storage operations seem sustainable, but most companies in this area could do better. Lead that change by putting these green self-storage go-tos into action.
