Energy is the backbone to civilization today and a resource which billions of people’s daily lives depend on. Many realize that energy we consume today, despite progress of renewable energy technologies (wind, solar, hydropower, etc.), is commonly produced from non-renewable resources such as coal, natural gas and oil. As cities and businesses continue to grow in size the demand for energy increases and nonrenewable energy resources diminish. It is our responsibility as a society to find better ways to meet our energy demands today and preserve resources, so that energy is available and affordable to meet the needs of future generations.
What is U-Haul doing to help society reduce its energy demand?
At U-Haul we promote truck and trailer sharing, our company’s core products. Truck and trailer sharing refers to rental services that are intended to decrease the need of private vehicle ownership. By using U-Haul trucks and trailers, customers are provided access to a larger space for packing their items and allowed to complete their transit with less mileage than they could with their personal vehicle. Every U-Haul truck over time has shown to have removed 19 large capacity vehicles (pickups, SUVs, vans, etc.) from the road and enables our customers to reduce their energy demand.
Additionally, U-Haul helps the environment and preserves energy resources for future generations by making sure our Centers are energy-efficient. To reduce the energy demand of U-Haul Centers we carry-out energy related projects such as installing energy-efficient lighting, motion sensors, improvements to heating ventilation and air condition (HVAC) technologies, upgrades to propane dispensing units and energy-efficient doors and windows. Since 2008, our energy- efficiency projects have saved over 60 million kWh. This savings is enough remove nearly 9,000 passenger vehicles from the road every year (epa.gov)!
U-Haul is always on the forefront and diligently exploring new technologies and opportunities that can contribute to reducing our energy demand as well as the demands of our customers. When energy is conserved and kept affordable it reduces the overhead cost, thereby allowing U-Haul provide a better and better product and service to more and more people at a lower and lower cost.