At North Store, we’re simplifying self-storage by making sustainability a core part of everything we do. From being fully solar powered to undertaking regular sustainability audits, we’ve designed the business to reduce waste and conserve resources without compromising on customer experience.
IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad said “What is good for our customers is also in the long run good for us,“, and in self storage, this quote couldn’t be more on point. In this business, customers want to lock up, leave, and not think about their belongings again until they next need to.
For that to happen, the belongings need to be safe and dry in an efficient, well maintained facility, and the only way to deliver that is through a commitment to thoughtful and sustainable practices.
The brand new facility at North Point Ballito was built with the planet in mind. As Ballito’s greenest self-storage facility, we’re powered by the sun, designed for natural ventilation, and committed to eco-conscious practices. From our solar panels to our recycled packaging options, we’ve built sustainability into every aspect of our business so you’re being sustainable when you store.
Maintaining a stable internal climate is key for self storage, and why many facilities depend on climate control to maintain a balance in heat and humidity. In Ballito’s hot and humid climate, this was a key question in the development of North Store’s first facility. The result is a building that was designed with unique insulation and ventilation systems to ensure the internal environment remains stable without the need for a cooling or heating system, which dramatically impacts the building’s carbon footprint.
The purpose-built North Store facility is fully powered by an array of solar panels on the rooftop, which is backed by municipal power should that system fail for any reason.
Depending on solar for the building’s primary source of energy meant considerable thought needed to be put into electrical efficiency. The building uses a smart lighting system that uses motion sensors to ensure the lighting only comes on as a sector is occupied, and remain on until that person leaves. The building also uses an energy efficient systems like fire protection and CCTV to ensure the building is always monitored.
Packaging plays a large role in any storage solution, and was identified within our original charter as an area of focus to deliver on our sustainability goals. We ensure that our boxes and packaging materials are sourced locally as far as possible, with suppliers recognised for their commitment to sustainable practices through their ISO and other accreditations. We encourage and provide advice to our clients on their packaging choices to ensure they are able to pack effectively and mindfully when using our units.
Sustainable storage starts with minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency.
We’re conscious about the waste self-storage produces. We contribute our cardboard, plastic and paper to a local recycling programme and use responsible disposal practices.
Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident and as a business practice is consistently evolving. To stay accountable and ahead of the curve, we undertake an internal sustainability audit to ensure that we’re doing what we can to be frugal and focused and in our environmental responsibilities.
Being a sustainable company starts with intent. For North Store, that began with the design of the facility, and has now filtered into every area of the daily operations, not only because our goal was to be conscientious, but instead because being good at self storage demands one is sustainable.
We’re also aware that being sustainable is a journey, and that there are always ways to learn, improve and grow. If you’re looking to store just about anything for home or business and want to do it stress-free, get in touch and we’ll help you find the perfect unit.
Unit 1593, North Point Ballito, R102, Shaka’s Head,
Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, 4420.
© 2023 All rights reserved | Privacy Policy
