Many of today's home shoppers are looking for energy efficient, environmentally friendly features in their new homes to help them live a more sustainable lifestyle. And once ready to move to a new home, the first step towards living a more sustainable lifestyle is to make an eco-friendly move.
Moving to a new home can be a wonderfully exciting (and sometimes stressful) experience that can also have an environmental impact. And just like many things in life, thoughtful planning and eco-conscious choices can make your move much more green. From packing materials to transportation, this blog post offers helpful tips and resources to ensure your move is as green as possible.
To make your move as less stressful as possible, start the process of assessing, decluttering and donating your belongings early! Well before any packing begins, take a thorough inventory of your possessions. Ask yourself: Do I need this? Have I used it in the last year? Does it bring value to my life? This will help you identify items you can let go of, reducing the volume of goods you need to move. The fewer items to move, the fewer the boxes, packing materials and trips needed to move them.
For anyone who has lived in a home for many years and has a lifetime of belongings and memories, this may seem daunting. But here are some tips from the pros to help simplify the process (and hopefully make it a bit more enjoyable):
Click here to read our Empty Nester's Guide to New Home Buying with more tips and resources, including a list of local shredding companies, move management solutions and more.
For items you decide not to keep, consider donating to local charities, recycling, gifting or selling them rather than throwing them away. Anything that can be used again, instead of taken to a landfill, will go a long way in helping make your move more eco-friendly.
Expert Tip: How to know when you should get rid of an item? The experts say if you haven't worn/used it in the last 12 months, then you likely never will.
Where to Donate Clothes
Looking for place to donate used clothes in the greater Washington, DC area? Below are some of the local organizations that accept used clothing. Clearing out your closet can not only benefit you, but others as well!
You'll be so happy when you arrive to your new home and only have your favorite and functional items to unpack in your closet. And for more tips on how to set up an organized closet in your new home, click here.
Where to Donate Furniture & Larger Items
Organizations in the Washington, DC area that will pick up donations free of charge in addition to drop off locations:
For electronics, look for e-waste recycling centers in your area.
Now that your decluttering and donating is well underway, it's time to start planning on how to best move the items you will take with you. The key to a successful eco-friendly move is to, once again, start planning well in advance. This gives you ample time to research sustainable options, gather eco-friendly supplies, and make informed decisions. Many suggest to begin at least 8 weeks before your moving date to ensure you have enough time to implement green strategies.
Develop a comprehensive moving checklist that includes eco-friendly tasks. This could include researching green moving companies, sourcing sustainable packing materials, and donating unwanted items. Below is an example.
Want to download and use this checklist?
Click here!
Look for moving companies that prioritize sustainability. Some companies use biodiesel trucks, offer reusable packing materials, or have specific green initiatives.
We researched some local DC area movers and found the following have webpages describing their sustainable practices*:
When vetting moving companies, ask about their environmental policies. Do they use fuel-efficient vehicles? Do they offer eco-friendly packing materials? How do they dispose of waste?
According to this Consumer Reports article, here is a list of questions to ask movers:
When thinking about how you will pack up all your items, consider if you already have items you can use instead of cardboard boxes. These could include suitcases, storage containers, dresser drawers, baskets, reusable totes and more.
If you do need more boxes and containers, ask if your moving company has reusable plastic containers or consider renting them. If you opt for cardboard, look for used boxes from friends/neighbors or local stores or even online marketplaces.
Here are a few places where you can buy or rent eco-friendly boxes and containers:
Second-hand (but good condition) cardboard boxes
Rentable bins delivered to your doorNow that you have eco-friendly boxes and containers, make sure you are stuffing them with eco-friendly materials. Once again, you can use items you already have (and need to pack anyways!) such as clothes, towels, blankets, bedding and more.
If you do need additional packing materials, make sure to use eco-friendly options such as:
Moving supply companies, such as Reuze listed above, may also offer packing materials in addition to boxes and bins.
If you have hired an eco-friendly moving company, hooray! Or, if you are doing the move yourself, here are a few tips to help ensure efficient transportation.
Moving out of your former home and into a new one typically requires giving both a good cleaning. To be more environmentally friendly, use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products that are packaged sustainably such as in plastic-free or recycled, refillable containers.
This blog post by Going Zero Waste describes 15 Eco-Friendly and Natural Cleaning Products to Try Now.
The EPA also provides helpful information on identifying green cleaning products here: Identifying Greener Cleaner Products.
Make sure your "first night" essentials such as a toothbrush and bedding are easily accessible so you don't have to do any extra shopping runs to buy new. Also, be sure to plan for your first meal. And if you get take-out, make sure its from a restaurant that uses eco-friendly containers.
As you unpack, continue to be mindful of waste. If you rented containers, the companies should come pick them up (easiest option!). If you have carboard boxes, this article offers ideas on what to do if you keep them, where to sell or donate them, as well as tips on recycling.
Also be conscious of the packing supplies such as paper wrap and how you dispose of them. Can they be saved and reused? Do you know anyone who could use them? Can they be recycled?
Now that you are unpacked, take this opportunity to set up your new home with sustainability in mind. Use LED light bulbs, set up recycling and composting systems, continue using green cleaning products and consider some indoor plants to improve air quality.
Also, sign up for paperless billing to reduce the amount of paper you receive in the mail. And to stop junk mail before it starts, this Washington Post article offers advice on How to Keep Junk Mail Out of Your Mailbox Forever.
After you have settled in, make sure your eco-friendly habits continue and develop into sustainable living practices. Here are some tips:
For more tips, click here to read an article offering 50 Sustainable Living Practices You Need in Your Daily Life.
For more information, here are some additional resources and helpful links:
Moving to a new home can be a wonderfully exciting experience and a start to an even more sustainable lifestyle. By following these eco-friendly moving tips, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact as every small action counts towards a more sustainable future.