Yesterday, I blogged about an article announcing Sovran Self Storage is considering adding solar to its line of storage facilities. Solar is a hot topic right now. (Excuse the pun!) The technology is more affordable, plus there are a ton of kickbacks from federal and state governments.

I recently finished up a feature on solar and other green products and services. Look for it in the July issue and on the website soon.

ISS will also explore the merits of solar in the self-storage industry at the ISS Expo in Washington, D.C., Oct. 5-8. We're putting together a panel of experts to speak on the subject.

Are you interested in solar power? What questions do you have? Are you concerned about the costs, curious about rebates or just want to know how it all works? Give us your feedback.

__________________
Amy Campbell
Editor
Inside Self-Storage
acampbell@vpico.com

We investigated this one year ago and it worked out NOT to be affordable.
It took nearly 20 years to collect the investment back.
It could be a different story if you build a NEW facility.

We had a customer include solar in a project recently. I believe they were pretty happy with it, but don't recall how fast the payoff was expected to be.

We expect that solar will gain in popularity as costs come down.

Steve Hajewski
Marketing Manager
Trachte Building Systems
www.trachte.com

Attached Images

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I have wanted to do this for the last three years, but the cost is the biggest hurdle.

Everyone tells me to expect a payback in 5 to 7 years, and then they quote me anywhere from $85,000 to $200,000 for an 18Kw system.

Not a one of them can tell me how an $85,000 price tag can get a payback in 7 years! If someone can give me this answer in plan english they will have a sale.

I gave up on trying to talk to Baja (they are at every EXPO) - sorry, but the only answer I can get from them is an offer for RV covers with solar panels for 5 times the cost. They confuse me even more then the solar installers!!!!

It all boils down to this -- someone give me straight answers and SHOW me how to do it!

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Wayne
Jamestown, ND


All arguments can be resolved ... with high explosives and Humor!!!

Our facility has been build in 3 faces and we have 2 separate electricity meters.

Because of this system it increased substantially the cost of installing solar roof panels we have been told.

We contacted and used the company: " Standard Renewable Energy " and they need the following info: (This is needed to see if investment can carry the cost and or/savings.



1) Current elec provider

2) use of kWh over summer and winter

3) square footage of buildings

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publi...FQHyDAod4CXX3g



Remember we did this all a year ago so it might be all different by now and not even sure if they are still in business.

I am interesting in knowing more about solar panel designs. Is there a technology which will make them more "hail resistant"? Has anyone received some definitive information from the solar industry? Please post a link if you have one.

There are portions of the sunbelt, where severe hail is not uncommon. For owners in these "hail belts", the installation of solar panels could result in a dramatic increase in property insurance premiums, or imposition of exclusions or special deductibles for this peril.

Be sure to contact your insurance broker/agent early in the process of evaluating solar panel technology.

http://www.riskandinsurance.com/stor...oryId=90072916
This article mentions how one particular storm did significant damage to a solar panel manufacturing company's plant. Somehow that just seems ironic.

This is a very interesting point you make.

The solar company can provide you with there formula concerning,hail and weight on your building.

Our main concern was not the size of hail but "bullet holes".

We have on a regular basis bullet holes in our roofs.

People like to shoot in the air to celebrate.

Definitely solar panels are vulnerable and not cheap to fix.

I'm with you Wayne. We had a bid worked up about three years ago, by a business associate of one of the owners. It was in the high six figures! But with rebates, yada-yada you can make money blah, blah, blah. It was awful.

Yet all around our neighboring city I see the schools have installed the carport solar panels. Now we all know how government wastes money, but I know the annual budget so they must have gotten quite a deal on them. I'm going to try to find out who the winning contractor was.

Maybe one of the solar manufacturuers will weigh in here, to help us all out; that would be nice.

We have to go a step further than most though. We have a natural gas generator on site, a small 87,000 watts that needs to be factored into our equation. Surprisingly that was a nominal cost on the entire quote.

Goodness knows we get enough sunshine to make it worth installing solar. We also get the wind, so maybe a couple of wind turbines would be a good thing instead. At least they're more affordable in the under 50' range. I researched them a while back and those can be picked up for about the price of a new car; a NICE new car!

Amy - Interested? YES!

Questions? Can you as a vendor describe and set forth terms and conditions in laymen's language?
What would the maintenance program be?
Are there PM contracts available?
Is there a vendor that is a one stop solution from design to install, to acquiring rebates, to producing spreadsheets that are understandable based on a site's annual usage?
At what point is an installation cost effective vs. cost prohibitive for a site?

We want to know it all, a working knowledge of a product gives us the power to make decisions.

BTW Amy, Thanks for the blogs and the article links! It's nice to know what's happening in our industry.

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
twitter.com/CochraneStorage

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!
I am not an attorney, just an experienced manager who is willing to share what I have learned. Your thoughts, practices or opinions may vary and neither of us may be right.

Here's a link to a unique "roll on" product that goes right on the roof.

United Solar Ovonic LLC, www.uni-solar.com 800-530-8586

www.solarelectricsupply.com is another source for solar stuff.

Steve