Many are the reasons one might use a self-storage facility in Orange County. Perhaps you are between homes and staying at a hotel or with friends.  Or the current economy might have fueled the need to move into a smaller place for a little while, but you are not prepared to part with all your belongings.  Or it might just boil down to the fact that you too much stuff and too little storage space.   Whatever your reason, you will need to know how to choose a self-storage facility that suits your needs.  Don Willis of Storage West offers these thoughts on what to consider.
 
Security and Safety- If the grounds are well kept and the staff professional in their appearance, then the staff are probably actively involved in the overall operation of the facility.  A quick call to the local police department can also answer questions regarding crime in the area.

Management – Longevity of the management is one factor to consider when choosing a facility.  Again, the appearances of the grounds as well as the staff show how well it is being managed.

Access – Ask how often managers do a complete lock down of the facility, what is the procedure if tampering is detected, and what type of lock they recommend.

Temperature Control – As there are no industry definitions for the term “temperature controlled” ask the manager for their definition and be sure to discuss your needs for temperature/humidity.

Insurance – All storage renters should consult their own agent, show a copy of the lease and ask about supplemental coverage available through the facility or through the business insurance policy.

Asking questions and receiving adequate answers are the key to choosing a self-storage facility.
Storage West has 10 locations in the Orange County area.  To learn more about Storage West, click here.

OC residents know that reducing their carbon footprint is paramount to the future of their world and are actively researching solar energy businesses. 

 Our environment’s resources are not limitless and we should always be looking for ways to be good caretakers of Mother Earth.  Using the sun to turn your roof into a miniature electrical power plant for your home makes sense on two fronts.  One, solar electricity is a clean power source.  It generates electricity that is free of harmful CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases.  Two, many state and local government programs offer incentives and rebates to subsidize the cost of equipment and installation so it makes good financial sense to go solar.  Solar electricity converts sunlight directly into electricity, which can help reduce your electricity bills by as much as 60 percent.  What a great savings!

So how does it work?  Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity.  The building blocks of a PV system consist of solar cells.  When sunlight is absorbed by the semiconductor materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms.  This “photoelectric effect” causes the free electrons to travel into a circuit built into the solar cell to form a current.  PV systems produce more electricity on sunny days, but will still work on cloudy days.  To produce more power, the solar cell must be interconnected to form panels or modules.  Then if more power is needed, several modules can be installed on a building. Modules come in different sizes and range from about 10 to 300 watts in power output. About 10–20 PV arrays can provide enough power for a household.  A well-designed and maintained PV system will operate for more than 20 years and the PV module, with no moving parts, has an expected lifetime exceeding 30 years. A PV system generates more than $10,000 worth of electricity over 30 years. Now that is a staggering figure.

Just like buying a car or making any other long-term investment, it is important to do your research before making a purchase. Mail-order companies, large discount warehouses, small mom-and pop businesses, and large corporations all sell and install renewable energy (RE) systems.  You want to be sure that the person or company that is designing and installing your new solar system has the expertise to install an efficient, safe, and reliable system.  You will want to check their professional credentials and be sure they have an electrical license.  If they don’t have the electrical license, you need to sure that either the installer does or you hire a licensed electrician to obtain the permit, supervise the job, and do the final AC hookups.  It’s a good idea to hire an installer who is bonded and insured, although this generally means that they will cost a little more.  Making sure the products are UL, ETL, or CSA approved is one way to ensure the safety and reliabiltiy of the product.  Ask about service agreements and performance guarantees.  Lastly, ask for references.

Don’t delay.  Make a difference today.  Visit OCRG and get a listing of companies in Orange County to help you plan your conversion to solar energy.