Going green is becoming a popular trend in the world today, as more and more homes and businesses are installing solar panels, recycling and using energy efficient materials and supplies in their premises, as a way of preserving the environment. Owners of storage facilities have not been left out, and a growing number of facilitates have started to adopt these environmentally friendly strategies. One of the most commonly embraced strategies is the use of solar power. This article details the main reasons why storage facilities should go solar:

Energy Savings

How much energy does your storage facility currently use? How do seasonal climate changes affect energy usage? How many climate controlled mobile self-storage units do you have? Are you required to provide energy for the live-in manager? Naturally, storage facilities utilize minimal amounts of energy, and connecting solar power could make them totally self-sufficient. Due to the fact that most storage facilities are usually accessed at night, facilities that are connected with solar power place no demand on the power grid at peak usage times. The size of the solar power system will be determined by the current energy usage of the storage facility in order to offset the current energy costs. And since these facilities will be spending less on energy, you can therefore lower your rental prices further and attract more clients.

Potential Earnings

Owners of storage facilities can earn some additional income by selling the surplus energy back to their utility companies. Owners should check with their local providers to establish if there are any limits on how much electricity the utility company will buy back. This way, you can calculate how much income your storage facility can earn.

Competitive Edge

Installing solar power can give your storage business a competitive edge, particularly with the younger crowds and the environmentally-conscious. According to statistics given by Earthshare.org, 35% of population is more willing to pay for services from businesses that are environmentally friendly. Your renewable efforts and efficiency can give you an edge over your rivals, even when you are competing against the bigger brands.

Press – Free Publicity

Your storage facility will receive a wide range of coverage for its green efforts, with mentions in the mainstream media and other publications. You can send out press releases to the right channels and by so doing, you can position your brand as an energy efficient business and draw a lot of publicity towards your storage facility.

Return on Investment

Installing and maintaining solar power can be an unaffordable venture for most businesses. However, investing in this form of renewable energy pays for itself in the long run because, ultimately, the amount you will save in energy costs will outweigh the upfront costs of investment. It will take approximately five and a half years for the facility to recoup its investment via reduced tax credits, energy bills and rebates.

Tax Credits

Many localities, cities, states and countries around the world offer tax credits to businesses that practice energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies. Check with your local authority or government to see what kind of benefits you will enjoy in your area. Some governments, such the federal government in the United States, offer attractive benefits to businesses which save energy and produce their own; for instance, a 30% corporate tax credit is given for solar panels. For a detailed list of energy saving strategies, you can visit the website EnergyStar.gov.

Social Responsibility – Giving Back to the Community

The process of installing solar power for the storage facility will require professionals with the right kind of expertise. You can hire contractors from your locality to install and maintain the solar panels for you, thereby creating job opportunities for them. Furthermore, the energy generated from the project can be used to power the homes that surround the storage facility, as a way of appreciating the support they show to your business.

Diversify your Business

Some storage facility operators shy away from integrating climate control or refrigeration systems due to the high electricity costs involved. But thanks to solar power, these facilities can now provide power to run these systems at considerably lower prices. With these systems available, the storage facility can diversify its business and start handling frozen foodstuffs such as meat, chicken, prepared foods, strawberries and other products. Other operators are now turning into seasonal climate control, whereby the climate control option is available only during summer (when there is adequate sunlight to supply power for the cooling and refrigeration systems). Clients can sign up for these seasonal agreements so they too can help conserve energy and the environment.

Prestige

By connecting solar power to the storage facilities, the buildings can qualify for LEED certification. This is a prestigious standing awarded to businesses constructed with efficient and recycled materials. Such an award can immensely boost the reputation of your business, and also allows you to take advantage of state and local incentives.

Set the Trend

As a trendsetter, your business can assume the role of being the chief campaigner for green energy strategies in your local community. You may as well restructure your mobile self-storage unit (for more info on mobile self-storage unit go to http://www.taxiboxmobileselfstorage.com.au/) so that it becomes the first self-sustained “green” business in your locality. Taking a higher moral ground can go a long way in building trust and confidence amongst your targeted clients.

Suitability – Ease of Installation

The design of storage facilities makes them perfect for solar energy panels. Rooftop solar power installations are the most practicable options, because of the dense structure of the storage facilities, where units are compact and buildings are simple – most of these buildings are single-storied structures with flat roofs, allowing easy installation of high-density arrays of photovoltaic cells.

Conclusion

The storage industry is gradually positioning itself as responsible environmental stewards and leaders in the communities that they serve. Currently, more and more storage facilities are exploiting solar energy for their businesses, as they seek to play an influential role in environmental management and conservation. Governments and non-governmental organizations around the world have also a put a lot of money into reversing the degradation of the ozone layer through legislation and by encouraging business enterprises to embrace ecologically friendly alternatives, such as solar power.

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