Environmental benefits of storage

Get familiar with the environmental benefits of using full-service storage

Single use items and tossing low-quality belongings away after a few uses in our culture has definitely gotten a lot of attention. On the onset, using these types of items is a choice we make because it’s cheap and convenient. However, it’s worth it to consider whether storing quality items that are well-cared for when not in use may actually be cheaper, more convenient, and even environmentally friendly in the long run!

Keep reading for factors that make our choice to use full-service storage one that has a positive environmental impact.

• Make an initial quality investment, and store it when not in use. Consider this example: You’ve been buying cheap winter parkas each winter. You don’t have a chance to wear them in the next year, because they rip, the pockets wear out, the elastic snaps, or the dye in the fabric bleeds when you wash it. You end up either throwing it out or donating it each year and buying a new one in the next. Over time, racks up a large bill in terms of replacements. What if, instead, you purchased a higher quality parka once that was constructed to last, and stored it with a professional storage service until you needed it again? Think about how much money you might save!
• Climate-controlled storage facilities keep your belongings in good condition. Extreme heat, cold, humidity, sunlight, and other factors can degrade certain items that you may have in storage if not properly stored. If you can find extra space in your home or another person’s home where factors like temperature, humidity, and light are constant, that may work well for you. However, uninsulated storage sheds, garages, and other common storage areas may not provide the type of climate-control that a professional storage service can. Choosing a full-service storage option may allow for you to reduce the risk of damage to your stuff and the possibility of having to replace it.
• Downsize your current space to downsize your carbon footprint. The truth is that larger homes and abodes just consume more resources, including financial ones. So, if you’re considering downsizing your home, but not your belongings, storage may allow you to hold on to what you’d like to keep without holding on to space you don’t need in your house or apartment.
• Since you only get charged for the storage space you are using, you end up using less space. The professionals leave the guesswork out of how much space you need to rent to store your belongings. You only get charged for the volume of items you need to store. It also means you are literally taking up less space than you would if you rented a specifically-sized storage unit (unless you have enough items to fit into every square inch!). This allows for the professionals to maximize their space, but minimize your footprint.

To take the storage-as-environmentally-friendly-option one step further, you can also make greener choices in packing your items for storage. You may consider:

• Avoiding plastic containers and opting for cardboard or paper boxes instead.
• Stuff the empty spaces in your boxes with recyclable materials, like packing paper, newspaper, towels, or even old clothes.
• Try to use a storage facility or service that is located close to where you live, to reduce the amount of driving necessary to move your items back and forth.

Making the choice to extend the life of your belongings by choosing full-service storage really can be a way to reduce costs, consumption, and waste. The professionals at Piece of Cake Moving and Storage are ready and waiting to help you spruce up your current space with a greener take on storage. From our cardboard boxes and packing paper supplies, to only charging you for the total volume of your belongings, we hope to make both a positive impact on you and the environment.