Posted by Ashley Gannon on Sep 26, 2011
RVers have always been eco-conscious. Living and camping in the outdoors, RV campers have a special appreciation for our planet’s natural beauty and the responsibility we have to preserve it for future generations. Many RV campgrounds provide recycling bins and practice green campsite management. Here are some things you can do to go green when you RV:
– Follow recommended tune-up, maintenance and oil change schedules to keep your RV motorhome or tow vehicle running at peak efficiency. You’ll reduce vehicle emissions and conserve energy — and save money at the pump!
– Only use marked RV campsites and designated fire pits. Don’t toss plastic, foil or metal into the fire; recycle them.
– Minimize your use of disposable products. Make iced tea or lemonade instead of drinking canned soda. Instead of paper cups, buy reusable washable plastic cups, a different color for each family member. Substitute bandanas for napkins, and use sponges and washcloths instead of paper towels to wipe up spills.
– Purchase nontoxic tank additives and cleaning supplies for use in your RV and use biodegradable toilet paper.
– Use campground recycling centers. While traveling, use plastic buckets or paper bags to make a simple onboard recycling center for separating recyclables between campground stops.
– Dispose of trash in designated containers or carry home with you.
– Clean up after yourself at the campground shower house and dump station. Always pick up your campsite before leaving so it’s ready for the next camper.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Oct 18, 2010
By spring, filling up your RV with gas could be a little more complicated. The EPA just approved the use of 15% ethanol in gasoline, a 50% increase from the previously approved 10%. While gas stations will not be required to carry the new ethanol blend and, if they do, will have to clearly label pumps, RV owners should start checking pumps carefully before they fill up.
The new E15 gasoline blend is only recommended for RVs manufactured after 2007. If your recreational vehicle was made before 2001, the motor is not configured to handle E15 gas. The EPA is still testing vehicles manufactured between 2001 and 2006. Use of E15 is not recommended in those vehicles until testing is complete. RV owners should check with manufacturers before using E15 gas in their RV to make sure the ethanol blend will not damage the motor or invalidate warranties.
The ethanol increase is part of the government’s drive to increase alternative fuel use by 2022, by which time federal law mandates that the country double its use of alternative fuels. A byproduct of corn, its ready availability has made ethanol a popular choice for alternative fuel makers, despite the complications of producing blended gasoline.
Posted by Ashley Gannon on Aug 06, 2010
Summer veggies picked fresh from the garden are one of the true joys of summer. Nothing tastes better than a juicy tomato or crisp green pepper just plucked from the garden. That little backyard plot of summer tastiness is one of the things RV full-timers miss most when they take to the open roads.
Until now, the mobile RV lifestyle hasn’t lent itself to gardening. Many RVers do keep a potted plant or two in their RVs, but gardening can be a messy challenge when your home is constantly on the move. Loose dirt and sloshing water create a muddy mess every time you hit a bump in the road, and the limited sunlight pulled through smaller RV windows doesn’t encourage sun-loving plants to thrive. RVers who are dedicated gardeners solve the problem by moving pots outdoors when they hook-up for the night, but all that heavy lifting can lead to chronic back pain and exposing plants to temperature extremes can injure them.
RV gardeners have found a perfect solution to all their gardening problems in Windowfarms. Unique hydroponic grow stations originally developed for cramped city dwellers with no access to garden space, Windowfarms are lightweight, no-mess, space-efficient, attractive and cheap (about $30). A 4×3 window can accommodate more than a dozen vegetable plants, herbs and edible flowers. Made from recycled materials, Windowfarms provide an eco-friendly way for RVers to exercise their green thumbs.
Posted by Shawn Friesen - Director of RVT.com on Jan 22, 2010
RVs are going green. Consumers are scaling back on their expenses but not their lifestyle. RV buers want comfortable spaces and great features tied up in an energy-efficient, fuel-efficient package that’s cheap to operate – and RV manufacturers are working hard to deliver. In the last week we’ve talked about new energy-saving construction techniques and materials, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. New technology and innovative ideas are finding their way into mainstream RV design and construction. Here are some of the new green RV features to watch for:
> LED lights are being featured in both exterior and interior lighting applications. LED lights consume just one-quarter of the electricity required by conventional lighting, and lamps last more than 10 times as long.
> Fuel cell technology manufactured in Germany is getting a test run in the U.S. Light-weight, compact fuel cells have the potential to replace generators as an RV energy source.
> Energy Star appliances are becoming standard.
> Light-weight composites and sustainable materials like bamboo are being used in the construction of counters, cabinets and flooring.
> Light-weight aluminum frame/foam cushion furniture and beds are being created especially for RV use.
> Double-pane, tinted acrylic windows with integrated roller blinds keep RVs cooler on hot, sunny days.
> Integrated solar energy roofs will eventually replace mounted solar panels.
> Retractable wind turbines that can be raised onsite and lowered during travel will provide an additional RV energy source.
Posted by Shawn Friesen - Director of RVT.com on Jan 20, 2010
In addition to light-weight composite construction, RV manufacturers are introducing more aerodynamic designs, lighter-weight exterior and interior components, feather-light foam insulation and a host of other improvements to decrease the weight of RVs. Fuel and energy efficiency certainly head the list of goals, but some RV travel trailer manufacturers also aim to create RVs light enough to be pulled by the average 4-cylinder family sedan — and they’re getting closer.
At December’s National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Jayco showed off a new, aerodynamic, V-n0se front profile for its 2011 Skylark travel trailer. Jayco further streamlined the RV trailer by moving the air conditioner off the roof and repositioning it at the floor line. In addition to increasing aerodynamics, this lowered the trailer’s center of gravity, allowing Jayco to use a single axle system that further lightens Skylark’s load.
New RVs feature light-weight aluminum shell and frame construction instead of heavier wood. Some manufacturers are moving to even lighter-weight composites and experimenting with a variety of recycled content for exterior and interior features. One manufacturer is constructing shells out of a new durable Fiberglas.
RV manufacturers are also working to cut construction (and sales prices) by recycling and reusing construction materials. Construction scrap is being recycled into RV components like storage unit doors and light-weight cabinet doors.
With marketable hybrid RVs still in their infancy, decreasing RV weight seems to be the most effective way to increase RV fuel efficiency.
Posted by Shawn Friesen - Director of RVT.com on Jan 18, 2010
The RV industry is going green. Many of the most exciting innovations on display at the annual RV show in Louisville were aimed at making RVs more energy efficient and even more environmentally friendly. Since most RVers are already tuned into the environment, it seems to be a good fit. Crowds were particularly attracted to many of the new green RVs on display that featured solar panels, wind turbines, sustainable interiors, light-weight composite construction (see our January 15 post), hybrid fuels and other eco-friendly innovations.
So much interest has been generated in producing green RVs that T.R. Arnold and Associates, a respected international accredited certifier of quality management systems, is rolling out a green certification program for RVs. Similar to the LEED green building certification program sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, the new TRA Green Certification promises to apply green building standards to RV manufacturing, particularly the manufacturing of park model RVs.
The company is currently working with the RV industry to develop reliable standards that can be applied not only to the construction of RVs and more fuel-efficient engines but to RV products like awnings, appliances, light fixtures, etc. A TRA Green Certification designation will guarantee RV buyers that the RV they are purchasing has (1) been constructed using green building materials and techniques that create minimal impact on the environment and (2) that its operating systems, appliances and special features are energy efficient.
Posted by Shawn Friesen - Director of RVT.com on Aug 26, 2009
Cheap gas prices have encouraged RVers to hit the highways this summer. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded hovered at a relatively comfortable $2.63 a gallon at the beginning of July, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. That’s an average $1.50 less per gallon than we were paying last year, but it can still make for a hefty charge when you’re filling up the tank on a Class A motorhome. More RVers are adopting “green” driving techniques to maximize fuel savings and keep gas charges low.
Promoted by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, EcoDriving USA offers tips to help RVers and other motorists save money at the pump and reduce their carbon footprints by up to 15%. Here are some of our favorite tips.
> Turn off your engine while you’re waiting at the curb while mom runs in to pick up a gallon of milk. You can save half a gallon of fuel for every hour spent idling.
> Remain calm while driving. You can increase fuel economy by as much as 33% by avoiding rapid starts and stops and driving less aggressively.
>Slow down. Sit back and enjoy the scenery; after all, isn’t that one of the reasons you RV? Gas mileage diminishes quickly at speeds above 60 mph. Every 5 mph over 60 will cost you the equivalent of 20 cents more per gallon of gas.
>Pump up. Check tires often and keep them inflated to manufacturer’s specifications. Properly inflated tires can boost RV mileage by 3.3%.
Posted by Shawn Friesen - Director of RVT.com on Jul 01, 2009
Life amidst nature is one of the joys of RV living. The view outside your window is always spectacular; nature’s bounty, just outside your door. Perhaps because RVers live in the midst of nature they are more attuned to the need to protect our natural resources. Most RVers practice environmental conservation and recycling and are always looking for new ways to preserve the natural world that provides them so much pleasure. Of course, RVers are as economy-conscious as they are environmentally friendly. They know that going green saves green — in their wallet!
Here are some great ”go green” tips from fellow RVers that will help you reduce your carbon footprint, preserve resources and save a little cash in the bargain:
> If you’re embarking on a long RV trip, turn off utilities at home and unplug electronics and appliances before you leave to eliminate energy use while you’re gone.
> Consider adding solar panels to your RV’s roof to provide power while you’re on the road.
> Turn the water off when brushing your teeth, washing your hair or showering. Lather up, turn off the water, scrub, then turn the water on to rinse off.
> Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient CFL or LED bulbs.
> Don’t let the water run while washing dishes. Fill the sink to wash; refill with clear water to dip-rinse dishes.
> Turn off the A/C and enjoy nature’s breezes.
> Patronize RV campgrounds that offer recycling or drop your recycling off at a local collection center.
> When you reach your destination, unhitch your vehicle to save gas while taking local jaunts. If you have a motorhome, consider towing a small, low-mileage car for local travel at your destination. If you’re traveling to a bike-friendly location, ditch the car and take your bikes.
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