You might consider yourself a “green” person—someone who recycles regularly, avoids wasteful packaging, and opts for walking or biking whenever possible. However, when moving day arrives, your environmental concerns may quickly take a backseat to the stress of planning, packing, and renting equipment. It’s easy to overlook the environmental impact of your move in the midst of it all. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and make your move more eco-friendly. Below are the top three ways to be more earth-conscious on moving day.
1. Start with the supplies. A green move starts with green supplies. This doesn’t mean you have to trudge around town collecting flimsy boxes from the back of grocery stores and dumpsters (just think of the gas you’re wasting). Instead, look into a quality, organized reuse program. For example, U-Haul offers a take a box leave a box program, and an online box exchange. Both of these programs allow you to reuse boxes after someone else is done with their move at no cost to you. When it’s time to purchase moving supplies, you should buy items that are made largely from recycled materials.
2. Choose the right equipment. While you may think that all moving trucks are the same when it comes to their environmental impact, the truth is that they differ drastically. This is especially true when it comes to fuel efficiency. Some moving trucks have been specially designed to be as efficient as possible. For example, U-Haul rental trucks have a low profile, rounded corners and advanced chassis skirts which serve to reduce wind drag and raise fuel economy by 20%. Also look for a fuel economy gauge which will help you stay on top of your efficiency and impact. Be sure to choose a truck that uses unleaded gasoline instead of diesel fuel, because this is a cleaner-burning fuel.
And finally, choose a truck that is large enough to accommodate all of your belongings, that way you won’t have to make multiple trips.
3. Location, Location. Location. Take it easy on the environment (and your wallet) by planning in advance to choose a rental company that has a location near you. Consider both pick-up and drop-off locations if you are moving to a new city. The less distance you have to drive to pick up and drop off your rental equipment, the less CO2 will be emitted into the environment.
Do you have any tips for having a green move? Let us know below in the comment’s section what has worked for you.
