If you’re currently in the process of planning your house move, you’ve likely got a lot on your mind and even more on your to-do list. From packing up your entire life into boxes to finding a reliable removals company and putting your house on the property market, there are so many things to think about when moving house and it can quickly become stressful and overwhelming.
With so much on your mind, it’s very easy to forget about your environmental responsibilities during a house move. When we relocate and move to a new house, we often produce a fair amount of waste – from old pieces of furniture that we no longer want to used moving boxes, packaging and unwanted house clutter. In addition, house moves can create a huge amount of CO2 emissions.
However, with a little planning in advance, there are plenty of things you can do to make your house move greener – from using eco-friendly packing materials to cooking and eating all your food before you move.
Declutter your home early
Over time, we accumulate a lot of things and, often, we don’t realise just how much stuff we have until it comes to moving house. There’s a high chance that you won’t want to take absolutely everything into your new home, and this is the perfect opportunity to have a big declutter and get rid of anything you don’t want to take with you. Plus, the less items you have to take to your new property, the less trips the removals van will have to do on the day and the less packaging you’ll need.
However, it’s important that you dispose of clutter in an environmentally friendly way. As you go through each room in your home and declutter, make sure you put each item into three different piles: ‘Keep’, ‘Donate’ and ‘Get Rid’. You can donate all sorts of items to charity, from clothing and jewellery to books, games, films, paintings, toys, furnishings and more. Give items away to friends and family or sell them online for a bit of extra cash.
If you have some unwanted items that you can’t donate to charity or sell, make sure you dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. Recycle items where possible and dispose of paint and other materials in a safe way (many recycling centres will dispose of them safely for you).
Use eco-friendly packing boxes and materials
When moving house, you don’t need to invest in new boxes and packing materials – instead, use things that are already lying around your home or ask friends and family if they have anything that you can use. Pack in any containers that you already have lying around the house – if you can fit items in it, then fill it before packing. There are lots of things that you likely already have that are perfect for packing up your belongings, including:
- You’ll likely have a suitcase or two, if not more, in your house. Pack up every suitcase you have with clothes that you are taking to your new home. Remember, rolling clothes instead of folding can help you to save space and pack more efficiently. Alternatively, consider packing books in suitcases as they can be heavy to transport.
- Dresser drawers. Simply packing dresser drawers with the items that they already have in them is quick, easy and convenient. Plus, everything will be in the right drawers when you get to your new home, saving you time. Remember to remove any fragile or valuable items from dresser drawers. When using dresser drawers to pack, you have two options: empty the drawers and pack them or leave the drawers full and secure them well.
Other items that you can use to pack up items include gym bags and duffel bags, reusable grocery totes, bins and storage boxes. If you do have to invest in packing materials for your move, make sure that you choose eco-friendly options. Try to use as little plastic as possible during your house move.
Re-use any cardboard boxes that you have lying around your home instead of buying new. Alternatively, local shops may be able to help you with free cardboard boxes. Standard cardboard boxes can last between four and seven uses (before recycling), so make sure you get as much use out of them as possible.
Reduce food waste
It’s no secret that food and liquids do not travel well, which is why it’s a good idea to start using up all of your food before the big move. Plus, transporting lots of food over to your new property could result in unnecessary trips that result in more CO2 emissions. Start making meals out of all of the food in your freezer and fridge and empty your cupboards early on to ensure that every last bit of food gets eaten or used up. Try your best not to throw any food away unnecessarily.
If you have food left over before your house move, contact local charities or your council to ask about donating surplus food or to locate local food banks. Food banks also accept donations of unused toiletries, so be sure to donate these too if you have any. Donating these items will free up space in your removals van and benefit the recipient too.
Start good habits in your new home
It’s all well and good planning an eco-friendly house move – but it’s equally as important that you carry on being environmentally friendly in your new home too! Once you have moved into your new property, unpacked all of your items and popped the champagne cork, it’s time to start practising your good habits. Make sure you recycle all of your packing materials and, when choosing new furniture for your new home, always try to opt for recycled furniture.
To improve the energy efficiency of your new home and reduce the costs of your energy bills, it’s important that you ensure that your property is well insulated. Insulating your home will help to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and save you some cash, too. In addition to properly insulating your home, there are a few things you can do around the house to keep it warm and cosy without spending too much money on heating.
Lay down rugs over floorboards to stop warm air from escaping your home, invest in draft excluders to put under doors and buy some thick thermal curtains to ensure that the cold winter air is kept outside. Fit energy efficient light bulbs in your new home and, if you invest in any new appliances for your property, make sure that they are environmentally friendly and energy efficient too.
Looking for a man and a van? Essex Removal Service & Co offer quality house removals services
If you’re moving house and are looking for a reliable removals company, you needn’t look further than Essex Removal Service & Co. We understand that moving can be a particularly stressful time, and choosing the right company to help you with the task can be difficult.
At Essex Removal Service & Co, we are a family-run company with over 25 years’ experience providing hassle-free removals, storage units and shipping services to both domestic and commercial clients. Our team of highly trained and experienced house movers are dedicated to ensuring that your house move goes as smoothly as possible, and our logistical team will work closely alongside you to help plan every step of your move in great detail. If you’re looking for a team that you can trust and rely on, your search ends here.
For more information about our removals services, visit our website. If you’d like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, simply get in touch with a friendly member of our team today.
