Is green RVing really possible? With our quick tips, you can be on your way to reducing your carbon footprint while on the road just in time for Earth Day! Here are 10 easy ways to help you conserve energy and save money all while having fun on your next RV road trip.
Stay In Tune
Poor performance leads to less fuel efficiency and more pollution. One of the easiest paths to a greener on-the-road lifestyle and energy conservation is to properly maintain and service your RV.
Rest in the Shade
Generators use fuel when you’re running them. Reduce how much fuel you’re using by limiting how often you run your unit’s air conditioner in hot climates. We recommend installing shades and awnings on your RV or parking in campsites that are protected by a tree canopy during the day to keep your RV cool without the high environmental price of fuel usage.
Improve Circulation
By strategically using fans and ventilation, it is possible to get more from RV heating and air conditioning systems. When the weather is cold, use your ceiling fans to keep warm air moving through your RV, rather than letting it heat just one room or rise up and accumulate close to the ceiling where you don’t feel it. On those warmer days when air conditioning is not absolutely necessary, just turn it off, open some windows, and use a fan as a ‘cool’ way to conserve energy and save money on fuel.
Recycle on the Road
Recycling is one of the most fundamental ways to stick to a green lifestyle, so maintain a system in your RV for separating and storing those items that can be recycled. The key to recycling successfully on the road is to offload recycling bins frequently.
Eat Fresh & Local
Buying fresh, local food is a great and delicious way to help the environment while RVing. When you eat locally, you can rest assured that the food you’re eating didn’t have to travel a long distance contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, eating fresh food sourced locally is a great way to connect with the area you’re visiting in your RV.
Use Green Products
When you’re shopping for any type of cleaning supplies for your RV, take some extra time to read the label to ensure the items you are purchasing are natural and don’t include toxic chemicals. There are entire brands dedicated to environmentally safe cleaning products, find one you like and bring the products on the road!
Change Your Lightbulbs
Energy-saving fluorescent bulbs are widely available at chain stores and, although they cost more than conventional bulbs, they last 10 times longer while using 75% less energy. While swapping out your lightbulbs, consider using rechargeable batteries in gadgets like flashlights and automatic timers and dimmers to reduce your overall electrical use.
Use Reusable Items
While single-use and paper products are convenient, they create unnecessary pollution and can be problematic in national parks and other nature sites. Instead of using paper towels, plastic utensils, or paper plates, stock your RV with kitchenware that you can use over and over again. It will save you money in the long run, and help you save the Earth!
Add Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to your RV can be a great way to save money on fuel and benefit the environment. While they can be costly up-front, if you do a lot of dry camping or boondocking, they could be a great fit for your RV lifestyle.
Leave No Trace
One of the main rules of the RV lifestyle is to leave no trace wherever you travel. Why not take it up a notch and leave your campsite or boondocking location better than you found it? Pick up not only your own trash but if you see any in your vicinity dispose of it properly.
Green RVing is possible and a great way to honor the places you visit. Are you ready to explore the RV lifestyle for yourself? Check out thousands of models on RVTrader.com today!
4 Responses
Your article is pretty shallow and filled with generalities. If I were to implement your suggestions, how much would my carbon foot print be reduced? Have you ever done the actual calculations? The fuel used by most larger RV’s clearly outweighs any saving from the suggestions listed. Improving the fuel mileage of a tow vehicle or motor home significantly is nearly impossible based on my 12 years on the road. These articles are fell good articles written by people with no practical experience RV’ing.
LED light bulbs are so much more energy-efficient than fluorescent bulbs that most RV manufacturers are now including them as standard for interior and exterior lighting, including tail, brake, and clearance lights. This is very beneficial to those who dry camp and rely on non-lithium batteries (lead-acid, gel, AGM) to provide their 12v power. In our first travel trailer, we could warm the interior on cool Colorado mornings just by turning on our 12v incandescent light fixtures!
The problem is that low-end RV’s use LED light fixtures that are all one piece, ie., the bulbs are attached directly to the fixture (no socket). So, the entire fixture must be replaced if the bulb burns our. That is ridiculous! RVers need to pressure manufacturers to use fixtures with replaceable bulbs.
Solar panels do have a emission, and require more panels than a RV dedicated wind turbine.
Look for pop up $2000-4000 ?