Moving to Barnet, or anywhere else, can be done in an eco-friendly way. When we use the term eco-friendly we may have images of hippies, flower power shirts and daisy chains go through our heads but these days more and more people are taking on board that we waste too much and we must try and be more economical in how we live our lives. When we are about to move home it is an ideal time to be an eco-warrior in your own right!
There will be two things that you are saving when you decide to be eco-friendly in your house move, these being money and the environment.
You will be able to make some savings by only moving the items and belongings that you really want and need. It is time to have a de-clutter, have a thorough clear out and get rid of all those unwanted items by recycling, selling, donating them to charity or throwing them out. Go through your house room by room, cupboard by cupboard, and start to make decisions on what you want to take with you. Things that can be sold can be done online or in the local paper. You could also go to a car boot sale, if you have the time before the move, or if not get a family member or friend to go to the car boot sale for you. If you have white goods that are past their best and need to be replaced, send them for recycling and purchase energy efficient new ones. Charity shops are always on the lookout for donations so clothes, books, handbags, etc., that you no longer have a use for will be of great use to them. If you have a short distance to travel with your move then you could consider trips using your car or hiring a van locally but if you are moving further afield then look to using a removal company as it would be costly on your fuel and the environment with all the repeat trips you would have to make if you used your own car.
When it comes to packing you can re-use old boxes, ask at your local supermarket for any excess they have. You can also enquire about the re-useable plastic boxes that are starting to creep into the market. Look online for companies that rent out these boxes, they deliver and pick up. As they are sturdy they can be used over and over and are also better are keeping the contents unharmed in transit.
Plan how you are going to do the move as this will save you time and money. When things are written down and planned it gives you something to work to in the weeks leading up to and on the day of the move. On the day of the move you want to ensure that the things you want and need are going with you, you are travelling the most economic route to your new house and not having to make umpteen repeat journeys for things you have forgotten or didn’t have room for as you didn’t have the right sized vehicle.
No one would expect one house move to make a huge difference in the current carbon footprint but all the little things add up and you can then pass on your experience to others that are moving house.
