Green Building Standards Coming to RV Industry

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.

Comments

1. Karin
   
   November 7th, 2010 at 6:56 am

   Great article: Do you have tips on converting older RVs?

2. RV Pro
   
   November 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am

   @Karin
   That’s a great topic for a future article, I’ll look into it and see if our writer can come up with something.

   Shawn Friesen
   Director RVT.com