There’s been a new surge in the U.S. South to make moving a more environmentally friendly effort. For years, the status quo in moving was wasteful packing peanuts, gas-guzzling vans, and buying new cardboard boxes.
New eco-friendly practices like reusing packing materials, reducing clutter and using green transport companies are taking hold with movers in cities like Knoxville, TN, where moving is on a upswing, owing to a nearly 10% increase in median home sales prices over last year, according to Trulia.com.
Here are 8 simple ways you can make your next move green.
#1 Begin before you move. Gather items and set them aside, as soon as you know your moving date. You’ll save money and reduce waste when you move. Try to save reusable packing materials, like paper, tape, and padded envelopes.
#2 Re-use cardboard boxes. Buying new cardboard boxes exacts a toll on the planet’s forests. You can move without buying new boxes. Collect and re-use large and small cardboard boxes. Save them as you find them, including smaller boxes, like shoe boxes, which you can use to pack small breakables.
#3 Reduce clutter. Use your move as a chance to get rid of accumulated belongings. Donate them or recycle them. Don’t pay to move items that you won’t use—it’s a waste of time, fuel, space, and money. Many nonprofits will even drive to your home to pick up donations.
#4 Learn About Eco-Friendly Transport Companies. Don’t hire a moving service that wastes fuel, paper and plastic. Hire green transport companies that employ eco-friendly moving strategies. Look for companies that use bio-diesel or fuel-efficient trucks, and offer reusable plastic boxes instead of cardboard and tape. Even big moving companies and helpful services like transportcompanies.com are helping consumers make the switch to eco-friendly moving practices.
#5 Weigh in! Are you moving less than 1,000 pounds? If so, you might want to hire a small move specialist to consolidate your items on a larger truck with other people’s belongings, which saves money and fuel.
#6 Fill the Van to Capacity. Make sure you’ve sized the available trucks correctly, so you’re not paying for more space and fuel than you need. When it’s time to load up, pack your belongings tightly. This will eliminate breakage and eliminate the need for multiple trips.
#7 File the Right Paperwork at the Post Office. Complete a temporary change of address at the post office instead of a permanent one. This has a big environmental impact because the USPS sells its list of permanent address changes to direct marketers, but doesn’t sell its temporary change lists. You’ll greatly reduce or even eliminate incoming junk mail!
#8 Make your new home sustainable. Once you move, put eco-friendly habits into place in your new space! Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of incandescent light bulbs. Set up sorting and recycling areas in your new home, use bio-organic cleaning supplies, and look into composting.
When you are moving houses, another thing to consider is sorting out your insurance. Home contents insurance is something which usually is looked over or forgotten about. However, if you are someone who has lots of expensive items in your home, then this could be something for you.
With these tips in mind, you can help achieve a more efficient move with transport companies, while also doing your part to save our greatest shared resource.