Can You Green Your Move?

Greening a move to a new home is a tough one. Hands down, one of the greenest moves you can make is not to move at all. Find a location you like (a green community preferably) and stay put.

Moving creates waste, uses oodles of energy (depending on where you move to), and creates a need for disposables. For example, it’s common to see a family eat a ton of take-out, or use paper plates during a move.

That said, we don’t always have a choice. Sometimes a move to a new home is unavoidable. In that case, the second best thing you can do is to try and green your move.

GENERAL GREEN MOVING TIPS:

• Before you move make sure your new community is a green one.
• If you can, downsize. Moving to a smaller house is always an eco-friendly move.
• If you’re an apartment dweller, find out how to locate a greener apartment.
• Before the move, scale down your stuff. This means less to move, a smaller truck, and an overall smaller footprint.
• During your move make sure you take along on-the-go green gear you need. Try to limit the disposables you use during your move.
• Give all perishable foods to friends or a local charity so you’re not wasting it.

GREEN BOX TIPS:

Use recycled boxes. You can get freebies at grocery stores, warehouse stores, or my favorite – liquor stores. Liquor boxes rock because many have compartments (good for glasses and vases) and are super strong. If the great box hunt is not for you contact a recycled box retailer or exchange site like:

• Used Cardboard Boxes
• Box Cycle
• U-Haul Box Exchange
• Craigslist

You can also check with local moving companies, many carry recycled boxes now. By the way, just for fun, after you move, save your boxes and build a killer desk.

GREEN PACKING TIPS:

Don’t use polystyrene packing peanuts – these are a huge eco-baddie because they’re made from non-renewable resources. You should use biodegradable packing peanuts – they dissolve in water and can even be composted. Get some at U-Haul.

Save all sorts of recycled stuff for packing – old bubble wrap, which is not eco-friendly, at least can be used again and again to pack breakables. Newspaper and tissue paper are good to save as well for packing.

Padding Paper is great for breakables. It’s 100% recyclable and has a, “Honeycomb-embossed corrugated texture that gives it impact-absorbing qualities when wrapped or folded around delicate items.”

ABOUT THE MOVING TRUCK:

This is one of those areas where almost nothing will help you stay green. No matter if you move by car or truck, you’re gonna use gas. If you’re moving cross country, you’re going to use tons of it. That said, following are some ideas and tips.

In Move Across the Country the Eco-Friendly Way, Planet Green suggests moving by train, or shipping items by train, rather than by truck because trains are more efficient.

See if any local moving truck companies near you are using eco-friendly trucks. Some are, but it can take some searching and luck to find a company near you. You’ll have more luck if you live in a larger area – like L.A.

Do you have any green moving tips to share?