Can RV travel be sustainable over the long haul?
The Next Generation of Recreational Vehicles are Here
Traditionally, RVs are notorious for getting bad gas mileage and not being environmentally friendly. They are known to be gas-guzzlers and slow-moving on the highway which is not attractive to becoming a sustainable traveler.
- Are there any new alternatives?
We did some research to find out RV manufacturers are on-the-ball when it comes to upgrading their materials of what makes up the newer generation of RVs.
Energy Efficient RVs and modern technology
High on the list are energy-efficient RVs that consume something other than gasoline. For example, there is pig-urine. What?! Well, it’s a name that has stuck but technically it’s called Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) that is made up of animal urine. It’s an eco-friendly way, but very expensive, to add a second tank to an RV allowing it to run on this water/urine/DEF mixture in lieu of using gasoline.
Another alternative is solar. Adding a SolarFlex solar rechargeable battery to an RV can make it last much longer and take the worry out of ending up with a dead battery in the middle of nowhere.
Certified Green RVs use less, recycle more, and maintain efficiency
Certified green RVs are made up of four criteria areas of resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor air quality.
As discussed in the previous paragraph, there are alternatives to traditional fuel consumption. Resource efficiency refers to the kind of materials and how manufacturers use the materials in construction. There are various ratings for this particular industry.
Water efficiency is using low-flush toilets and recycling rain water to reuse. Indoor air quality refers to the toxicity emitted from materials used in construction such as carpet, wood, paint, insulation, etc. and the amount of VOCs emitted. Also important is the amount of air circulation in a vehicle whereby less energy is used to either cool or heat the interior.
Slow Travel Conserves Energy Making RVing a Sustainable Way to See the World Locally
One of the tenets of sustainable travel is to stay in one place, rather than moving from location-to-location emitting GHGs. It’s been dubbed slow travel because it allows the sightseers to learn more about a location and even make new friendships last longer. Paradoxically, RVing is cost-effective for this very reason.
Go Tiny and Go Green in this Unique Camping Trailer
There is a unique alternative to the traditional RV behemoths seen on the open highways. It’s a tuk-tuk camper that comes with all the bells-and-whistles you need on a camping holiday. The German manufacturer Elektro Frosch makes this pedal-assisted motorcycle camper. It really involves slow travel as it only goes 25 mph and takes 6-8 hours to recharge. You can surely be a sustainable traveler using this eco-friendly mode of transportation! You’d develop a lot of patience along the way with this leisurely lifestyle.
There you have a snapshot of RVing in today’s modern world. It’s what you make of it that counts.
RV Freedom Now: 10 Easy Steps to Full-time RV Freedom
