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When you hear the term “move green,” it might conjure up images of packing your things in large bamboo leaves and hiring a team of non-CO2-emitting Sherpas to carry them across town.

 

In actuality, being a green mover is pretty straightforward. It just means being conscious of the environment and employing methods that are not harmful to the earth. Interestingly enough in a recent online survey conducted by Burst media 82% of adults said they incorporated some level of green behavior in their daily lifestyles.

Being green is a growing trend in the moving industry. All it involves is tweaking practices that have historically been big on waste such as throwing away cardboard boxes and bubble wrap or moving your belongings in smoke-belching semi trucks. Earth-friendly moving means scaling back a bit.

Many industries are adopting new greener practices and traditionally non-green industries such as automotive, energy and housing are now embracing new business practices that take into account short- and long-term effects on the environment.

Likewise, green moving is gaining in popularity with consumers, moving the demand for environmentally friendly moving into a prominent position.

 

So how can you be a green mover?

 

Here are our tips for reducing the carbon footprint of your next move.

 

This seems obvious, but don’t accumulate as much stuff in the first place. Less is generally better for the planet anyway, and the less stuff you move, the less gas your moving truck will burn. Green moving can also translate into more "green" for you, because you’ll likely spend less to move your household.

 

· Get rid of stuff before you move it. Consider holding a garage sale, or selling your unnecessary items online at eBay or through Craigslist.

 

· Buy used cardboard boxes. Moving companies generally prefer that customers use new cardboard boxes to ensure stability, which means a lot of cardboard boxes get tossed after only one use. If using cardboard boxes, look for boxes made of recycled material.

 

· Rent moving boxes. When packing, take advantage of companies that offer reusable packing crates, which can eliminate that waste, such as Rent-A-Crate, a nationwide firm that offers moving crates made of recyclable high density polypropylene.

 

· Cut back on the bubble wrap. You can use old newspapers for non-fragile items, or even old sheets or towels as packing material.

 

· Look for environmentally-friendly cleaning products when moving out. These products can be found at most large discount chains.

 

· When you are looking at moving companies, talk to them about their environmentally friendly attributes.

 

· Ask all the companies that you deal with to employ eco-friendly practices, especially if they don't. If moving companies believe that consumers are demanding environmentally friendly moves, the moving industry will feel obligated to adopt green moving methods.

 

Green Tips After Moving Into Your New Home

 

Finally, after you’ve moved in to your new home, it’s a good time to think about other ways you can leave less of an environmental footprint.

· You can stop junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Service at the Direct Marketing Association. It won’t stop all the stuff you get daily in your mail, but it will help to reduce a large portion of unwanted paper.

 

· Set up a recycling center in your new kitchen where it’s easy and handy to separate paper from plastic recyclables. Making recycling easy to do ensures that you’ll be more likely to do it.

 

· Think before buying. When shopping for a non-essential item, ask yourself a simple question: When the times comes to move again, will you relish the idea of moving it?

 

· Reduce the possessions you own by recycling or donating an item when you bring a similar item into your home.

 

Remember we ARE your Real Estate Office - committed to providing you with the best possible, independent advice on all aspects of your real estate needs.

 

If you are considering moving - give us a call and we would be happy to discuss your requirements with you.