In the pursuit of a greener, more sustainable world, innovative practices are emerging across various industries. One such area experiencing a shift towards eco-consciousness is self storage. Traditionally seen as spaces solely for storing belongings, self storage facilities are now embracing sustainability initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. This fundamental change towards sustainable self storage not only benefits the planet but also offers numerous advantages for businesses and consumers.
Sustainable self storage involves adopting environmentally friendly practices throughout the storage process, from construction to daily operations within the business. At PadStore we employ the following practices to ensure we are as environmentally friendly as practicably possible:
Reusing Existing Resources
PadStore purchase brand new shipping containers, that have been used once to carry stock from overseas before they arrive at our facilities. When a customer vacates their storage, we clean the units to make them ready for rehire. This ensures that the units are kept in good condition and can be reused time and time again for as many years as possible.
The Corten Steel used to make these storage units are produced in an eco-friendly way. The material is comprised of demolished structures or retired products, which minimises the demand on the planet. Corten Steel is also robust and, as our units are well-built, they can last years in all weather conditions.
When a container has reached the end of its usable lifespan as a storage unit it is then repurposed for an alternative use or recycled for manufacture into other steel products. Nothing is ever wasted or disposed of.
Access to our Storage Facilities
Entry to our outdoor storage sites in Grantham, Melton and Sleaford can only be gained by our GSM electric gate system. We programme each individual customer’s mobile telephone number onto the gate to allow them authorised access.
Our indoor storage building in Oakham, is accessible only by keypad entry. Each customer is provided with a unique pin code that can only be used by them for authorised access.
By utilising these systems, we have created a simple method of access for our customers and prevented the use of fobs, which could become lost, damaged, or forgotten. It helps the environment as it reduces the unnecessary production of plastics or metal to make these.
Opting to be Paperless
All our storage hire bookings can be completed simply by utilising our online booking form. This helps the environment by reducing the need for paper and all customer details are securely stored on our cloud-based systems. Monthly or Up-Front invoices are sent via email for customer records and ease of setting up their payments. Booking online has never been so easy; we can process your booking within an hour of receiving it, during office hours, and have you commencing your storage the same day if required.
Managing Electricity
We use a combination of solar powered and energy-efficient sensor-controlled LED lighting, all on timers. This helps us to reduce the amount of electricity used on any of our sites during dark hours. None of our units have an electrical supply to them, this helps us to control the amount of electricity used on our sites and prevent needless use of items being plugged in and left on.
Our Site Locations
All of our sites are situated within the outskirts of towns which make them easier to get to and also a shorter distance for our customers to travel, with most customers only needing to travel about 10 minutes to get to their storage units.
Remote Working
As our sites are unmanned this has reduced the need of vehicles on the road for our employees to travel to work each day and thus reducing the consumption of fuel and air pollution.
Our easy online booking form has also reduced the need for customers to visit site to complete paper forms which also aids in reducing our carbon footprint.
In conclusion sustainable self storage represents a significant step towards creating a more environmentally responsible and resilient future. By adopting energy-efficient processes and waste reduction initiatives, our facilities can minimise their environmental impact while offering cost-effective storage solutions for our customers.
