One way to help the environment and reduce operating costs is to install photovoltaic panels to capture solar rays to generate electricity.  Doing this will eliminate one more expense each month. Any excess electricity generated would go back to the power grid and be sold to the electric utility.  Do not let the initial cost scare you, as there is usually some form of rebate from the electric utility and tax incentives from both state and federal government.  Not only will you save money in the long run and generate a kickback from the electric utility it is also a great way help self storage facilities stand out against the competition. 

Okay the budget will not allow you to take this step at this time but not to worry you can still help the environment and save money by taking a trip to a home improvement store.  Replace the light bulbs at your self storage facilities with the new fluorescent bulbs and dispose of the old ones properly. You will save costs in the long run and help the environment.  Buy or build bins and start your own recycling center with little to no cost and make it accessible for anyone to use.  This would also generate traffic to your self storage facilities and may inspire some people who had never thought to use self storage before.

Something else that comes to mind that is cutting edge is to start a community garden if your self storage facilities have the means to do so.  This is really catching on especially in large urban settings because many people who would want a garden cannot do so because of space requirements.  A rooftop garden would be a great addition if your self storage facilities would be able to support it.  If you have a stretch of undeveloped land on your self storage facilities property, create one there.  If both of those ways pose a logistical problem dedicate one of your units and grow plants using hydroponics.  There are many organizations and gardening clubs that are looking for somewhere to operate and would be willing to help with initial costs in exchange for some publicity.  Having something like this would help with self storage marketing and could add to the bottom line of your self storage facilities.  Of course these urban green thumbs would also need a place to store their gardening equipment so renting self storage units would be par for the course.  This would also open up a line for your retail self storage offerings, stock eco-friendly fertilizers and organic treatments.

Whatever avenue you decide to take it is important to do it early enough that it gives your self storage facilities a leg up on your competition.  It will not be too long before some of this will be part of building codes and ordinances and you may not be prepared to make the change.  Going green now will ensure the sun will always shine on your self storage facilities and on this planet we call home.

Antioch location, 5251 Mt View Rd, Antioch, TN 37013

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With the use of computers, we can reduce office paper waste by implementing a formal policy to duplex all draft reports, and by making training manuals and personal information available electronically. Think before your print. If that piece of paper is going to end up in the garbage before the end of the business day, that document probably is not worth printing. If an electronic document is worth keeping, file it in a computer documents folder where you can go back and retrieve it. Most self storage business facilities have back up network servers that will keep important documents safe.

Every office has workers complaining that it is too hot and too cold at the same time. What happens is that the thermostat goes up and down like a seesaw and causes the climate system to work overtime. It is very important to start a green design policy when it comes to the self storage business office climate control. Everyone will survive at 68 degrees in the winter and 74 degrees in the summer. Not only will this keep the energy bill under budget, it saves energy. If the heating or cooling system has trouble maintaining the desired temperature, have a technician check it out. Self storage business employees are unlikely to complain if they know it is the company’s green design policy to keep such temperatures consistent.

A self storage business can reduce landfill trash by using biodegradable products for events and meetings. Instead of purchasing Styrofoam cups and plates, and plastic utensils, when you are at the grocery store look for biodegradable material. Many food products for serving refreshments with are biodegradable. Biodegradable products include cups, plates, coffee stirrers, and tooth-picks. Keep them stored in the break room storage cabinet for the self storage business employees’ lunches.

One green design solution to reduce is reuse. There are many things around a self storage business that can be reused instead of being tossed in the trash. Instead of trashing leftover food from the event or meeting, bring it to a homeless shelter. Printed training manuals can be returned and reused for new self storage business employees to use. When it is time to replace office furniture, buy new furniture from a preowned office furniture store. Perhaps your most successful green design strategy will be in the waste reduction of packaging and moving supplies. Ask self storage customers to bring back boxes and moving materials instead of discarding the cardboard in the trash.

Self storage business customers have many reasons for self storage, but the most common reason is to get rid of the clutter that occupies their homes. Before you know it they decided to trash the clutter during the move to the storage unit. As a green minded self storage business property manager, have a list of charities and recommend one of them instead of the dumpster.

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Here are five things a self storage business can add to their green design plan:

Light Switch
Self storage properties should switch to efficient lights like CFLs wherever possible. Change the bulbs in the office and in the storage units to energy efficient CFLs. Motion lighting also cut down energy use. It is important to have outside lighting, but it doesn’t have to be continuously on when the storage property is empty. Reduce energy consumption and utility bills by dimming the interior lights on sunny days. Turning them off is even better and perfect for a green design plan.

Add Green Money
Today, most computers and office equipment are available in energy efficient green design models. Whenever purchasing new office equipment make sure it is energy efficient. Not only will you help to protect the environment, you will save the self storage business some dough. Now you can take that extra money and invest it back into the business. In other words, buy something nice for her.

Innovative Green, A New Paint Color
New self storage buildings and upgrading old self storage buildings should be designed with a green design in mind. Using energy efficient windows and other construction materials will make a huge difference in energy consumption. Now add innovative climate control and watch the electricity meter’s cranks and gears slow down. Turn the thermostat down another 2 degrees in the winter an up two degrees in the summer.

Team Green
Self storage businesses can fight the carbon footprint by renovating work related transportation. Though onsite property management cut down on transportation to and from the storage facility, not everyone has the luxury of zero commute. Carpooling with the employees that must drive is a climate friendly way to get to work. Another green design is to purchase energy efficient property vehicles such as golf carts and hybrid cars.  

Take Me to Your Green Leader
A self storage business can take the lead in the fight against global warming by not only pledging their green design, but challenge other industries to taking the pledge.  It’s time for self storage property managers to get out of the back seat and start driving others to implement a green design. Not only will this help the self storage industry image, the environment benefits too.

Written by Kurt Schellenberger

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Introducing, Ellen Jordheim, Co-Designer for Hinge Collective in Denver, Colorado. Ellen is BSID and IDSA certified and has been creatively involved with Hinge since 2004. Hinge is an industrial design and building firm that is based on the philosophy that good designs improve the quality of life. Each piece of furniture is designed, prototyped and built in house with materials that have a lower impact on the environment.

If you would information about how to enter the Build It Green Design Challenge, please see the official contest rules.

Please submit your 200 to 400 description of your design the website to which it is posted to and call Tron for his email and put “green design” in the subject field.

Entering the Build It Green Design Challenge is a great way for you to get your name and Green ideas out into the self storage community. This will be a chance for publicity and networking to promote your Green self storage construction ideas. Submissions remain the property of the designer so don’t be shy to send your ideas in, we want to share them not keep them. 

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1. Replace older CRT monitors with LCD monitors, LCD monitors will last longer and consume less energy than the CRT monitor.

2. Recycle your old cell phones and pagers. Many of these items contain hazardous waste, so they should not be thrown away.

3. Recycle your printer paper, either to reprint on it or a standard recycling bin.

4. Switch your screen saver to a blank screen to save electricity.

5. Look for a local computer recycler or refurbisher instead of throwing away

6. See if your local church or school could use your working computers

Recycling electronics and cell phones are all a part of the Green ideas that people are talking about. There is more to recycling than just cans, bottles and glass, do some research to see what else you can recycle around your home or business.  Recycling helps keep our landfills clear of material that will not decompose at a normal rate. Do your part to keep the landfills clean of unwanted electronics, computers and cell phones.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS agent and business blog writer.

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A designer in California is building a bike out of bamboo. The design and bike have been winning awards across the country.

Turning an old water heater into a passive solar water heater, producing enough hot water for two people and saving the emissions of a regular hot water heater produces.

These are just a few things that I found on the Internet but I am sure that there are many more. There is even a show on TV that has this group of guys traveling around looking for great inventions. Many of these inventions fall into the green category with either the output or the materials the invention uses to power itself.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive and business blog writer.

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Please welcome Mr. Phillip Allan, President of Apple Self Storage. Phil is a very busy self storage owner along with his brothers Scott and Jeff. Apple self storage opened their first location of 4th generation self storage starting in 1999. Currently Apple self storage has grown to 12 locations with almost a million feet of storage space. Apple self storage companies are located throughout Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Starting this year they have divested itself of a number is its locations and has since re-started the growth with a number of new starts and purchases.

The Apple model is to either build from greenfields, create quality product from conversions or straight up acquisitions. Modern technology and maintaining strong vendor and staff relationships has created a wonderful environment from which Apple is basing the future. Apple also is aware of their responsibility to decrease its carbon footprint and to act responsibly in new and acquired facilities.

Cheers, from Phil.

Compiled by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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The green initiatives demonstrated in this year’s Tree include installing an Ice Storage plant that will reduce energy used during peak periods and is powered by energy purchased from wind generated facilities, using 30,000 LED energy-saving bulbs to light up the Tree and hand cutting the tree in order to reduce energy use. The equivalent of all these green practices is equal to removing over 300 cars off the road each year or planting 450 acres of trees.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree isn’t the first to use ice as a cooling system. The idea of using blocks of ice to cool rooms can be traced back to the 1800’s when a Floridian physician blew air over buckets of ice to cool hospital rooms.

Looking for green technology sometimes means looking back rather than forward and taking the time to find the efficiencies that history has to offer.

What could be more fitting than the world’s most famous evergreen symbolizing the Christmas season and environmental awareness?

Written by Sarah Little, TQA Director

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The StorageMart Green Design Contest judges are as follows:

Phil Allan
Dave Cramer
Gary Debode
Bob Francis
Paul Fried
Shelley Geiler
Ellen Jordheim
Jim Moita
Paul Nuthcer
Jim Whitesides

These judges come to the StorageMart Green Design Contest with many talents, views, education, life experience and they all have the desire to see more Green designs put into our world. Some of these judges have had their bios showcased already on this blog; stay tuned for the remainder of the judges to be showcased. We would like to Thank each judges in advance for their time and interest in this important topic of environmental support.

StorageMart is prime provider of self storage across America and now locations in Canada. If you need self storage that has great property management, call StorageMart for all you self storage needs. StorageMart has Illinois Self Storage Units, Georgia Self Storage units, Florida Self Storage units and more.

Compiled and written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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Paul is currently a Principal associate with AFC Realty Capital, located in New York. Here are some of Paul’s other qualifications:

• Member of the Urban Land Institute
• Previous COO and Principal for Allegiance Capital Partners where he co-developed an industry first
• Past Director of Deutsche Banc Mortgage Capital, member of the Investment Committee and overseer of the firm’s loan processing system
• Counselor to Herrick, Feinstein law firm
• Past attorney with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy, representing investment banks
• Graduate of Rutgers College where he graduated with distinction and a JD from Rutgers University Law School
• Past Law Review editor

PhoneSmart Green Design Contest is a way for you to get you name out there with you green designs for the self storage industry. The self storage industry is a perfect example of how we can change the impact of our environmental footprint. If you have ideas and plans on how you can help the self storage industry be more green, contact Tron Jordheim for details on the contest. Call 1-866-639-1715, today.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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Mr. Paul Nutcher is Vice President and a marketing consultant for Green Apple Group, LLC based out of Orlando. Paul enjoys working with building professionals on the issue of sustainability. He writes often about green building for industry journals and talks frequently on the topic across the country, mostly to manufacturers of building products. He sees the self storage industry as having a lot of potential for self storage facility developers, and owners and operators, especially those who want to introduce renewable energy and green building practices to their self storage properties.

Check out Green Apple Group’s web site and you will find a very modern, very practical approach to the ideas and implementation that the company strives for. The web site is easy to navigate and I especially like the page where the key employees have some information about themselves. This helps future clients see that Paul and his associates are real people with real solutions to making design and marketing better. There are also pages with examples of work and business references.

It’s going to take all of us to help make our live more Green, Thanks Green Apple Group for helping with the cause.

Compiled and Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

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Edison properties carried out the renovation of the Hippodrome Building by giving it a new glass façade, new elevators, renovating the lobby and including a new electrical and HVAC systems.

Mr. DeBode, who joined Edison Properties in 1993, actively leads strategic planning, development, construction and operations for all of Edison’s businesses.  A few highlights of his career include:

• Served as Lieutenant in U.S. Navy as a Naval Submarine Officer and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Engineer.

• Worked for Tishman Realty and Construction as a Project Engineer on commercial projects in Atlantic City, Jersey City and Manhattan.

• Led Manhattan Mini Storage in the development of eight projects totaling over 1.5 million square feet.

• Repositioned the Hippodrome Commercial Office Building while 90% occupied, including a full curtainwall recladding, structural alterations, marble and limestone two story lobby, and MEP system upgrades.

• Works closely with team of Edison employees and outside consultants in the development and construction of various parking, self storage and residential properties, including The Ludlow, a new 80/20, 243 unit multi-family project in the lower east side of Manhattan.

• Served on Board of Directors and as President of the Self Storage Association, the national industry trade association.

• Serves on the St. Philips Academy Building Committee, which has helped this private school acquire and develop a new Leeds Certified facility in Newark, New Jersey.

• Actively working with a green consulting firm on new development projects, as well as operational changes and alterations to existing buildings for LEEDs accreditation.

Mr. DeBode earned a BS degree in Computer Science from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1984.

The StorageMart Build It Green Challenge wants you to help transform the self storage industry in to the greenest, lowest impact industry imaginable. And that’s something we can all be grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day. Submit your ideas to Tron Jordheim, PhoneSmart Director.

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This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to submit their own ideas on how to make self storage the prevailing leader in Green Design construction. This can be attained in many different areas. Just a few examples of the contest categories include:  sustainable construction materials (bamboo wood), energy positives (solar power), and carbon negatives (grass rooftops).  And these are just to name a few! For a complete list, check out the contest rules and regulations at www.selfstorageowner.com .

Simply submit your entry to: tron@phone-smart.net. In 200-400 words describe your great design ideas and your visions to help make self storage the green exemplar for ALL types of construction.

Going Green is important for us to do today, and it is essential for future generations. The StorageMart design Challenge hopes to make the next generation of self storage facilities the most eco-friendly construction on Planet Earth!  Help us lead by example!

Written by Ann Sheehan

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Mr. Jim Whitesides, Owner of Ace Storage.

Ace Storage currently has three self storage locations in Illinois and three locations in Missouri. Jim’s former career was in the energy trading and marketing industry, and Jim has also run a startup company with a unique technology for renewable energy.  As such, Jim has had an interest in bringing renewable energy and energy conservation to the self storage business.

Jim’s commodity trading background was in the energy field, and in the late ’90′s there were electricity disruptions that caused many to become increasingly concerned about the traditional utility’s ability to keep up with growing electricity demand.  An opportunity came about to advance the cause by taking to market a technology that utilized heat – from any source – to produce electricity for homes and businesses while reducing or eliminating dependence on the power grid.  The technology could utilize heat from the sun in a traditional solar way, or could use waste heat generated by air conditioners, commercial cooking/baking processes, or any of a number of sources as the starting point for producing zero-emission electricity and reducing bottlenecks in the transmission grid – and doing so economically.  Jim is still very interested in applying this type of technology to the self storage industry – the cost savings are substantial, and the nature of our self storage buildings provides ample roof space.

Stay tuned for more of PhoneSmart Green Design Contest Information.

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PhoneSmart is Going Green with a green design challenge for the self storage industry. Self storage businesses can lessen the impact on the environment through design and technology. We have posted self storage blogs before about this contest so look it up or contact Tron Jordheim at 866-639-1715 for information.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

Self Storage Blog is brought to you by PhoneSmart – Your Premier Offsite Sales Force.

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So, what is the mixture comprised of? In its purist form, papercrete is paper, water, and portland cement. People often add sand for extra strength, fly ash to make the mix set harder or dirt in place of cement for a more earth-friendly, adobe like substance. Three years ago there were about twenty structures made up of this compound; that number is up to around 100 homes now. The structures range from single family homes to an experimental building on the campus of the University of Arizona. I believe this green idea to be amazing, to say the least.

What prompted this paper house movement? The environment. As we try to find alternate ways to preserve our environment and make things more energy efficient, papercrete is the next revolution to help decrease environmentally harmful material that comes from building houses today.  Paper is a great insulator and is a great way to use recycled paper. In addition, it keeps building costs way down. 

So, with all the positives about the environment, costs, and construction, why aren’t there more homes being made of paper? It’s due to the lack of IBC testing and acceptance of the idea. Enthusiasts say what is needed is someone to step up and be that person or business owner to take on the idea and bring it into the public eye.

That person might have been found in Zach Rabon. He is the president of MasonGreenstar, an alternative building company that plans to open a papercrete-block factory by year’s end.

We’re getting ready to put in a little over a million-dollar plant here in Mason, Texas, that will be able to create 7,500 blocks in a 10-hour cycle — or up to 15,000 blocks a day, says Rabon. In doing so, the plant will use up to 30,000 pounds of recycled newspaper, phone books and lottery tickets daily. In addition, Rabon notes, We’ll definitely have a block in the near future that is going to have zero cement.

Rabon hopes to have the plant up and running by 2009.  The papercrete blocks will cost around the same as a cinder block. It costs less to do it yourself, but it’s a lot of less mess and effort.

Still, homeowners that were surveyed think that for the near future, papercrete will not catch on and will be considered odd. However, Eric Patterson, papercrete’s inventor believes that it will eventually get there because it is a smart, economical and environmentally-saving idea.

So in short, houses made of paper are in the near feature. It’s just as sturdy as other material used to build houses, a great insulator, cost efficient, and environmentally safe. When you hear someone talking about it in a joking manor, you might not be too sure the structure in which you stand in, is not made out of paper itself. 

Written by Joel Little

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StorageMart believes sustainable self storage facilities are the next generation of self storage facility.

In the United States, buildings account for 38% of carbon dioxide emissions and 68% of electricity consumption. Green self storage will make one of the most earth-friendly businesses even more so by allowing self storage facilities be have a low impact on the environment and even give back in some areas.

The Challenge:

StorageMart challenges you to help make self storage the greenest construction on earth. If you have ideas about sustainable self storage building design and how to make self storage a leader in sustainable green design and construction, send in your submission.

StorageMart is looking for entries in the following categories:

Sustainable Construction: Green materials, low emissions, clean supplies and the newest revolution in eco-friendly materials.

Renewable Energy: Ideas to produce positive energy by way of solar, geothermal, wind, rain or innovative techniques not yet used.

Carbon Negative: The use of environmentally-friendly roofs, walls and parking lots and recycling carbon by use of ponds or new ideas that decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Nature Friendly: Building properties that promote the natural habitat of the local environment.

Amenities and Customer Experience: Improving the customer experience through design elements that help the customer and environment.

Green Functions: Technologies to ease property management and create efficiencies in managing self storage.

Outcome Based Results: Cost Analyses and ROI guidelines to bring profit through greem design to the self storage industry.

Recycled / Re-Purposed Materials: Re-using materials for new purposes.

Graywater: Recycle waste water for non-potable purposes

Rules for Submission:

• Post your designs and ideas online at your website of choice.

• Email Tron your intent to submit the idea. Then send a 200-400 word proposal that clearly summarizes your idea. Include the website where we may view your submission in its entirety. If your proposal and ideas are accepted, we will inform you and it will go before StorageMart’s panel of judges.

• You will then post on your website that your green design has been accepted for consideration to the StorageMart Build It Green Design Challenge. You must also link to our site promoting the contest. You are also encouraged to promote your acceptance into the StorageMart Build It Green Design Challenge by way of your own networks, subject to approval by StorageMart. A logo will be provided for use on your site.

• StorageMart will promote the accepted submissions through website networking, blogs, self storage press releases and national media.

• Websites include: www.storage-mart.net , www.storage-mart.com , www.selfstorageblog.com , www.propertymanagementblog.com , www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com , www.selfstorageowner.com

• Entries will be promoted at the Inside Self Storage Exp held in February 2008 and also at the Self Storage Association in September 2008.

• Three winners will be announced in October 2008 for  each of the above categories. The winners will be promoted through our online networks, industry press release and national media outlets.

This is your opportunity to offer your ideas to some of the most respected people in the self storage industry. The submission will remain your property. You will receive free publicity and a chance to be featured as a winner.

StorageMart has more than 60 properties in the US and Canada and has the capacity to make a difference in our environment and the self storage industry. You can find more information about StorageMart at www.storage-mart.net

Please send your 200-400 word green design summary and the URL where we may find your full submission online to tron@phone-smart.net and write Green Design in the subject field.

Reported by Sarah Little, TQA Account Executive

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I have read the hot news post on insideselfstorage.com, the Build it Green Design Challenge. If I could make a suggestion, I think it would be beneficial for StorageMart to consider adding an Urban Infill category to the competition.  This category would promote developers, builders and banks/investors who choose to creatively redevelop urban areas for self-storage.  Emphasizing Urban Infill through creative self-storage development would achieve several goals. 

The area our company specializes in, Brownfields restoration and redevelopment is almost exclusively an urban core problem.  I have focused on goals related to Brownfields redevelopment, which means, urban infill redevelopment.

1. Redevelopment of a Brownfield is almost as difficult, often more difficult, than implementation of all of the eco-friendly building practices emphasized in the current competition combined. 
2. Redevelopment of Brownfields is a significant issue toward promoting sustainable living practices.  There is a strong push toward urban infill and the reduction of sprawl by urban planners and other urban visionaries.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors has identified redevelopment of Brownfields as a significant problem toward achieving their goal of urban revitalization and the reduction of excessive land development, which encourages higher carbon use, among other things.  Urban areas that include self-storage can also benefit other urban redevelopment, including residential, commercial, and industrial, by providing extra space that is often not available in existing urban landscapes, which will make urban areas more attractive and help the cause of urban infill.
3. Redevelopment of Brownfields saves on resources by taking advantage of existing building structures and existing infrastructure.  Promoting redevelopment of Brownfields is also playing to a current and permanent trend in self-storage development, conversions.  As land prices increase, and municipalities continue to restrict self-storage development in suburban areas, conversion continues to become more popular.

There are many benefits to promoting Urban Infill as a category in your Build it Green Design Challenge.  I would encourage this category as an addition to your design challenge.

Michael T. Frede, Caleb Acquisitions

Editors Note: We will be adding an Urban infill category to look for some innovative concepts for using old urban spaces for new and Green self storage projects.

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Here are some of the categories that we will be accepting submissions on:

Sustainable Construction Materials

Energy Positive

Carbon Negative

Wildlife/Natural Habitat-Friendly

New Conveniences and Amenities

Smart Functions

Bottom Line Results

Re-Used and Recycled Materials

Gray Water Solutions

The Build It Green Design Challenge will be posting more blogs about this subject on our www.selfstorageblog.com site. Stay tuned for more information about the contest as it comes available.

If you have questions about any of this information please direct them to Tron Jordheim at PhoneSmart. Contact him at 866-639-1715. For information about StorageMart, visit our website. 

Posted by Tron Jordheim, Director of PhoneSmart.

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