There’s a lot to think about when planning a move. A whole lot. Between worrying about packing, finances, moving companies, kids, and deadlines, there’s little room for anything else, much less fretting over the effects a move might have on the environment. Should this even be an issue? If you’re trying to minimize your carbon footprint, should you be concerned with the environmental impact of your move?
Think about it this way: moving involves a large diesel-chugging truck traveling a very long distance while weighed down by a heavy load of cardboard boxes. Lots of fuel exhaust and lots of paper products going to waste. Moving may just be a short, isolated event and not a huge part of a lifestyle, but there are still a few easy steps you can take to make sure your move has as little impact on the environment as possible.
Find the Right Truck
The first thing you can consider, whether you’re hiring movers like us or going DIY, is the different kinds of moving trucks available. Nowadays, there are trucks on the market that run on the much cleaner burning biodiesel fuel, which is made from agricultural oils and animal fat rather than fossil fuels. More and more moving companies are starting use these trucks, and you may even be able to find one from a truck rental company. While you may not always be able to find one, it never hurts to look around for an opportunity to use a biodiesel moving truck to get your furniture across the country.
Cut Down on Weight
Another way to lower fuel emission is to decrease the weight of your load. The fewer items you pack into the moving truck, the lighter the truck will be and the less fuel it will take to transport them. This means you should have extra motivation to thoroughly go through your possessions and get rid of everything you no longer need. Easier said than done.
It might help to use 3 boxes as you begin packing your things. One box for what you know you’re gonna keep, one for things to donate or sell, and the last for the trash. When trying to determine if you should or shouldn’t keep something, ask yourself honestly. Do you actually think you’ll ever NEED it?
Even if the answer is “no”, however, it can be difficult to get rid of things that have sentimental value. Sometimes it can help to save those items for last and throw out some less valuable stuff like old bed sheets and clothes first. This can build momentum and let you make clearer choices of what to bring along and what to leave behind.
Cutting down on your item load has more benefits than just decreasing gas consumption. Moving companies usually charge by the weight of your items, so any weight taken off will save some money. As will selling as much of your old things as you can.
Use the Right Container
Lastly, before you start packing, don’t go straight for the old cardboard boxes. Buying them can be expensive, and even used boxes aren’t a very good idea as they’re usually worn out with a bottom that’s ready to give in to any weight you put in. Instead, try renting out reusable plastic containers; these are sturdier than boxes and thus can be used indefinitely without ending up in the trash. Plastic may not be the absolute best for the environment, but their reusable nature beats the huge amounts of wasted cardboard that moving boxes usually produce.
So next time you’re planning a move, take a little bit of time to think about what steps you can take to make your move greener. If you need some help determining what you can do, call us and we can help guide you through the steps you can take to make your move a bit more environmentally friendly. It might not have as big an impact as an entire lifestyle change, but you can still make a difference by cutting down on what would otherwise be a pollution-heavy activity.