 Mobile
Storage The Green System
The environment and, more importantly,
our impact upon it is fast becoming the
most pressing issue faced across the globe.
With each new study or documentary, it
becomes more and more clear that something
must be done, and soon, if the situation
is to ever improve. It has become so critical
that governments, both in the U.S. and
abroad, are beginning to legislate environmentalism
in every day life.
One area where this has become particularly
noticeable is in the construction industry.
New projects and existing buildings alike
are now being scrutinized for their sustainability,
energy emissions and environmental impact.
In an effort to create more “green” friendly
spaces, the industry as a whole and architects
in particular, are searching for new and
innovative solutions to old problems.
The use of mobile storage has presented
itself as one of these solutions. Built
on the premise of creating aisles only
where needed, rather than between each
row of shelving, mobile filing is an excellent
alternative to traditional methods and
offers both cost and emissions savings.
With less room needed for storing files
and other equipment, space can be used
for other purposes or left out altogether
to decrease the building footprint. It
also equates to less heating and cooling
of space that was not necessary in the
first place, thereby lowering the energy
needs of the building.
Built of steel that is completely recyclable,
the filing systems are themselves sustainable
and may provide credits for various rating
systems. Secure systems can be designed
to ensure privacy laws, such as HIPPA,
or inventory control is maintained.
As the project designers, more and more
architects are moving to mobile storage
in initial plans to have the tracks laid
in the foundation. It allows them to better
determine space needs and the overall emissions
created by the building. The “green” nature
of the product itself makes it a natural
choice for a profession on the leading
edge of sustainability.
A closer look at the room needed to store
paper records, magnetic media, janitorial
products, office supplies, hospital supplies
like surgical products or any stored items,
reveals a saving of anywhere from 50% to
75% of the total space.
The four drawer file, the first storage
cabinet introduced in 1896, required 5.9
Sq. Ft. of space to store 100 inches of
files. The modern replacement for the four
drawer file, the typical side style drawer
cabinet, requires 5.2 Sq. Ft. per 100 inches.
On the other hand, its counterpart, the
lateral shelf file, requires only 1.8 Sq.
Ft. of space.
While the shift from the technology of
1896 to the lateral shelf file created
an incremental reduction in the size of
buildings, the next step, Mobile Storage,
offers a quantum leap. Planned correctly
and with all but a few aisles removed,
Mobile Storage can require only 1.3 Sq.
Ft. or less per 100 filing inches, allowing
business to reduce the space needed for
storage and the residual heating and cooling
expenses for that wasted room.
Contrary to popular perception, Mobile
Storage is not a product intended solely
for large corporations. The latest U.S.
Census shows that there are 60 firms with
20 or fewer employees for every company
with 250 or more in the United States.
By realizing that a system can be created
to meet their specific needs, smaller firms
can utilize Mobile Storage to reduce their
space needs and lower their energy use
and emissions. And if enough of them take
advantage of these new opportunities, the
savings can equate or surpass that of multiple
large corporations.
Sustainable products, such as Mobile Storage,
are also “green” in another
respect – dollar savings. With the
cost to build or rent regular space at
anywhere from $25 to $250 a Sq. Ft and
even higher for hospitals or other specialized
facilities, Mobile Storage can reduce space
needs by up to 75% and greatly reduce the
cost of doing business. That, coupled with
return on investment to Mother Earth, makes
Mobile Storage something all owners and
shareholders can treasure, and “green” is
PR friendly.
Finally, it should be noted, that Mobile
Storage is not only a solution for new
buildings. Current spaces can have systems
designed and built on existing floors and
units can be adapted for small closets
to warehouses measuring thousands of square
feet.
The time is at hand to consider the future,
both of business and the Earth as a whole.
Use this opportunity to get an evaluation
of your storage needs and what you can
do to both save money and the environment.
Contact a specialist in your area for
a complimentary survey.
Copyright :J L Bell 2007
About the Author. JL Bell
He is currently Chairman of The Board for
My Office Planning Group, a National Association
of 65 Offices who supply Record Management
products and furniture across the country.
He received a A.A.S. Degree in Computer
Sciences in 1969, Has worked in the Record
Management field for 37 years, 32 years
as the CEO of The Office Planning Group
in Albuquerque, and Des Moines, he has
served as Local Chapter President for the
Association of Record Managers and Administrators’ for
three years in two different cities.
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