Going Green Becoming a Common Thing for Self Storage Facilities in New Jersey

When you picture a place that goes by the name of ‘Garden State’ pleasant images of beautiful gardens, green pastures, and picturesque blue skies comes to mind. You think of the environment in which we all live, one that we must take care of so that future generations don’t have to go to history books to see pictures of grass.

With that in mind, it is only fitting that a number of self storage facilities from the Garden State, otherwise known as New Jersey, have been making the news for their efforts to become more environmentally friendly.

The Lock Up, a Chicago based self storage company with facilities in numerous states across the nation, has installed solar panels at its self storage facilities in Livingston and Westwood, New Jersey.

“The installation of the solar panels will definitely enable us to reduce costs since sunlight is free. But even more importantly, both of our New Jersey self storage facilities will markedly reduce their carbon footprint as a result of using this type of clean energy source,” says Andrea Carnes, Vice President of Operations for The Lock Up Self Storage.

Since the panels were installed in April, they have produced anywhere from 70-90 percent of the energy used by the self storage facilities. To make them even better, when the needs of the facility are less than what is being produced, the surplus energy is fed back into the public power grid.

“We have always strived to provide the best for our customers, and we are very proud that our emphasis on using green energy is having such a beneficial effect on the community we serve,” says Carnes.

Another self storage company has also decided to reduce the impact that its self storage facilities in New Jersey have on the environment. Extra Space Self Storage recently contracted with 1st Light Energy to have solar panels installed in all 21 of its New Jersey facilities.

Michael Allen, the national sales director for 1st Light Energy points to the economic benefits that companies have to install solar panels, lower maintenance costs, lower utilities, tax breaks, as a good reason to invest them. He also noted that they give the community a good impression of the company.

“These benefits are not only fiscal, especially with existing federal and state tax incentives, but can also help to promote a company’s values and influence the way consumers and the public view their company,” Allen said.




Sources:

“The Lock Up Self Storage Facilities Go Green in New Jersey.” Digital Journal; 02 July 2011.

“Solar Energy Provides Savings for Self Storage.” Self Storage Industry News; 24 June 2011.