It needn’t be. The Self Storage Association UK describes most storage buildings as having large roofs and minimal energy use, and the bigger difference is how you use a unit, because storage that keeps good furniture and belongings in use, instead of sending them to the tip and buying new later, sits on the right side of the waste hierarchy.
What a storage building uses
Our units are standard self storage. They aren’t climate-controlled, and there are no power sockets in them, so nothing inside is left plugged in.
Across the industry, operators are looking at cleaner power too. In the SSA UK’s 2025 annual report, half of operators planned to install LED lighting in the following two years, and the number considering solar had risen significantly over the previous three years.
Where the real impact sits
England’s waste law sets a priority order: prevention first, then preparing for re-use, then recycling, then other recovery, with disposal last. Storage helps most when it keeps you near the top of that list.
Keep what you’ll use again. If you’re between homes, renovating or downsizing in stages, storing the sofa, beds and kitchen table for a few months and moving them back in later avoids throwing out good things and buying replacements.
Let go of the rest first. Storage works best for things you’ll want back. Before you book, sell, give away or donate what you won’t use, so you only store, and pay for, what earns its place. Our guide on whether to store, sell or give away furniture can help you decide.
Keep trips short and full. Choose a site close to home and plan your visits, so each journey moves more and you make fewer of them.
Reuse your packing. Sturdy boxes and plastic crates can go round several times. Our guides on free moving boxes and crates versus cardboard explain what holds up best in storage.
If storage is your bridge
Used as a bridge between one stage of life and the next, a storage unit keeps your belongings safe and in use until you’re ready for them. To find a site near you, see our locations or get a price online, and if you’d like to talk it through, call us on 0800 2545585.
Related questions
- Should I store furniture, sell it or give it away?
- Do storage units have electricity?
- Who uses self storage in the UK?
Further reading