Who loves the sun? We do! A recent agreement with Creative Solar will enable StorageMart’s five storage facilities in California to operate almost entirely on solar-generated electricity.
Under a 20-year lease, Creative Solar will install solar panels on the roofs of each StorageMart property located in Northern California.
Once installed, the combined solar system will total 175 kW (kilowatts), capable of producing 5,000,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) over the lifetime of the lease agreement.
Solar-Generated Electricity is More Efficient
Using solar-generated electricity to provide about 90% of the power used by these five StorageMart locations will, over the lifetime of the lease, offset greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving a car approximately 8,000,000 miles and carbon dioxide emissions akin to burning nearly 4,000,000 pounds of coal.
This is just the latest solar project which StorageMart has become involved with, following up the major installation of solar panels on the roofs of all their Ontario, Canada properties. It’s the perfect example of a storage facility maximizing its rentable square footage without increasing, but rather minimizing, its carbon footprint.
A Win-Win Situation
“This unique solar lease concept we’ve developed with StorageMart offers a win-win for both parties,” Creative Solar Manager Kevin Nuckels said. “StorageMart receives rental income for the previously unused rooftops of its properties, and is able to power those properties with clean, solar energy. Creative Solar owns and operates the solar systems and is paid for the actual utility savings generated by the solar electricity produced. We are very excited to have this opportunity to work with StorageMart and we’re looking forward to maintain a long, mutually beneficial relationship.”
“It’s our hope this installation, along with what we’ve done in Ontario, is just one of the first steps in a larger mission of not only maximizing the profitability of our storage facilities but also making StorageMart more heavily invested in the communities it calls home by joining together with great partner companies like Creative Solar to help reduce the footprint in those areas where we operate by using a regular source of renewable, clean energy,” StorageMart CEO Mike Burnam said.
Some of the installations will be on line as soon as next month, with the full installation expected to be up and running by the middle of 2015.