The sight of a big Land Rover towing along an even bigger caravan may make some people assume that a ‘vanners holiday isn’t the greenest of summer retreats. However, you’d be dead wrong to think that. Hitting the road in a caravan is in fact one of the greenest ways to get away.
Yes, you do burn petrol while you’re making your way towards your destination but once you’re there, the caravan doesn’t budge. Like most ‘vanners, Ron and I spend most of our time in the great outdoors, not the confines of hotel corridors and we wouldn’t change it for the world. Also, when you’re in your caravan, you have your own water tank, which naturally makes you more conscientious of how much water you’re consuming. Plus, the amount of gas and electric consumed is minimal compared to flying abroad and plush hotels.
So all in all I really believe us ‘vanners always lean towards a ”waste not, want not” mentality but that doesn’t mean we can’t always do more to reduce our carbon footprint. That’s why I’ve left some tips on how to do our bit for the environment.
Choose environmentally friendly caravan sites
Many caravan sites are now pushing to be greener, methods include sites providing their own recycling facilities, promoting the use of washing lines rather than washing machines and timers on light switches to ensure less energy waste.
Always be conscious how we operate in our caravans
Just like any kind of home – keep the lights on only when you need them. Also, keep an eye on how much water you’re using and a trick I’ve had to pull Ron on – don’t leave the telly on when you’re away from your caravan.
Make your journey as environmentally secure as possible
Ensure that your car and caravan are properly serviced so they’re working at peak efficiency. Don’t carry heavy weights about in the boot or the van unless you really have to. Make sure old tyres, oil, batteries and brake fluids are properly and legally disposed of and always use environmentally friendly car and caravan-care products.