Three Tips For An Earth-Friendly Move
When planning a move to a new house, the overwhelming job of getting everything packed and organized (and packed in the correct order so you don't spend weeks searching through boxes for your hairbrush) can throw you into survival mode so that you feel lucky to get the move done at all, let alone getting it completed in an ideally efficient manner. That's why starting early is such a great idea. Educate yourself on how to pack efficiently, move efficiently, and reduce stress during a move. Use these tips to help make your moving experience energy-efficient and earth-friendly as well as time-efficient.
1. Donate
Sort through your belongings before it's time to pack. If you haven't gone through your wardrobe for a while, you may find a significant number of items that you don't really need. You may also find things you won't really need at your new home, especially if you're moving to a different climate. Collect these items in bags (save your boxes to pack for the move) and then donate them to a worthy charity or a secondhand store. Donating means you can help out at no cost to yourself, but it also means your garments and other unwanted belongings have a better chance of being used again, which makes it an Earth-friendly choice.
2. Packing materials
Save up cardboard boxes for your move and then, if you still need more, use boxes that have already been used once. They'll likely still be in great shape, and if you don't know anyone who has extra boxes, you can probably find advertisements online from people who've just moved to your area and would like to give their boxes away for free. As another Earth-friendly packing option, eschew packing peanuts and instead use rolled-up socks, crumpled paper, and other soft items you may have around the house to cushion your fragile items. This has the added advantage of saving money too!
3. Moving company
When choosing your moving company, it's always a good idea to go with one that advertises itself as a "green" company. However, you should look into its claims a bit more deeply to make sure it actually is a green company. An eco-friendly moving company will use strategies such as:
- Using trucks that run on biodiesel fuel
- Maximizing truck space so fuel isn't wasted
- Offering alternative packing material options
By using these three tips, you can make sure your move has the least possible negative effect on the environment. When you get unpacked in your new house, remember to keep the cycle going by giving away your packing materials to someone else who's about to move!
For storage and moving help, contact a company such as Redondo Van & Storage.