Three Areas Of Your Self-Storage You Can Analyze To Make Sure It's An Earth-Friendly Facility
If you're thinking about getting a self-storage unit but concerned about the impact it will have on the environment, you should be pleased to hear that many self-storage facilities are now "greening" their practices. But "eco-friendly" is a big selling point these days and not very well regulated, so how can you tell if the company really cares about the earth or if they're just trying to boost their bottom line? When you're choosing a facility, you can compare their eco-friendly practices so you're sure to be able to get the best one. Here are three ways to assess the earth-friendly practices of a facility you're considering.
1. Building design
An earth-friendly building design is a crucial factor of an earth-friendly storage facility, and one of the most important factors in a building's energy efficiency (other than insulation) is the color of its roof. A black roof sucks up heat and conducts it into the building, meaning that much more energy will be expended on cooling than would otherwise be necessary. This also harms the environment in ways such as:
- Raising the average temperature in and around towns and cities (the urban heat island effect)
- Raising the temperature of storm water, which then runs into nearby waterways and alters the ecosystem
- Damaging the roof by constant subjection to high temperatures, meaning more replacement materials must be manufactured
Other efficient practices, such as using low-wattage lighting that doesn't suck up energy, should also be included in the facility's management practices.
2. Packing materials
A facility that has the Earth's best interests at heart will probably have a big focus on reusing and recycling. This includes providing recycling bins, offering slightly used cardboard boxes or reusable plastic boxes for storage, and facilitating the re-use of unwanted possessions by donating them to a thrift shop or other used-goods charity.
3. Energy source
In addition to reducing the amount of energy used through measures like efficient lighting and roofing, an environmentally responsible company also cares about where their energy comes from. If they investigate the source of the energy used by the local power grid, such a company may opt for alternative measures such as installing solar panels on the roof. However, some power companies actually provide green power from sustainable sources like wind turbines or geothermal energy, so responsible energy sourcing doesn't necessarily mean going off the grid.
As you can see, a self-storage facility (such as Bekins Van Lines Inc, can impact the environment in a variety of ways, which gives a lot of freedom for creativity in devising ways to reduce environmental impact. Check each company against these four areas to help you choose the one that provides the maximum environmental benefit.