Environmental Footprint of RVs

[queenoftheroad]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help. With my book coming out in a week, I'm getting a lot of questions from the media I didn't expect. (It's a humorous travel memoir about the year my husband and I - both psychiatrists - took off to travel the country in our motorhome.) Instead of asking us about all we learned about ourselves and each other on the trip (which I expected, since we're shrinks), instead, I'm getting questions about our "gas guzzling" vehicle, along the lines of "don't you feel guilty?"

I bet RVs in general actually leave less of an environmental footprint: We use less water, we're not heating/cooling an entire house, all the appliances are designed to be more effecient, we're not driving daily, let alone commuting in two cars to work. (And our rig has solar panels on the roof.)

Do any of you know of any websites/studies/information I can use along these lines? Any salient points I've neglected? Any help would be most appreciated. I'm slated to write an essay for the Huffington Post next week when my book publishes, and I want to address this issue, ie that RVs, are not necessarily the enviro-anti-christs that people seem to think they are.

Any help would be appreciated.

[dlrupper]

From a common sense point of view, it can be said that since your full-time home is smaller than a stick house it will cost less to heat. Since your water heater is smaller it will use less energy to heat the water. If you full-time you will likey be retired and won't be commuting to work everyday so you will use less fuel overall.

[jdensie]

We just completed a 3000 mile trip as workampers. We probably averaged between 8.5 to 9 miles per gallon.We will be sitting here till September with no fuel usage, we will use less electric, water and heating energy than your reporters. Also we do not need any fuel to go to our jobs as we live at the CG. Ask your reporters on how much fuel was used to bring in all of the stuff that they have in their homes. If they have it, most likely it was on a fuel guzzling truck along the way. Bottom line as fulltimers we are more green than they are.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[utmtman]

jdensie said it well. We stay at rv sites for two weeks to a month at a time so we use less fuel, water, electricity, and so on. We sold our home because it was costing us more for utilities sitting unused than we were using living in our rv full time on the road. You pay for garbage and sewer on your stick and brick even when you dont use it, you need to leave furnace and or air on when you not home to keep things from cooking or freezing. I say this cuz I know someone will say how can you pay utilities when you are not at home.

[queenoftheroad]

Thanks so much!

My Huffington Post piece about this, called The True Price of Gas can be found here (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doreen-orion/the-true-price-of-gas_b_104713.html). Let me know your thoughts!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doreen-orion/the-true-price-of-gas_b_104713.html

[dxsmac]

You told them! Not that anyone is going to care..... But for those who do care, and for those who actually read it, it was well thought out, and you answered all the issues. But unfortunately, the focus is on the price of diesel and your MPG being 8, as opposed to 35 or 42 with a hybrid car.....

Well, one suggestion to be more "green" is to not have a tow vehicle, instead, take a motorcycle (better MPG) or take a bicycle, or take an electric bike like I have (www.egovehicles.com).

Or, travel to places where you can ride public transportation. I'm toying with starting a blog on "Toadless RV'ing." I don't know how much interest there would be in this. I would have to travel to lots of places and figure out how to get around without a toad. ANd, of course, this would COST me (the gas!!!)

JJ

[queenoftheroad]

Thanks so much!

Funny you mentioned electric bikes. Hubby and I were just at a street fair where a booth had them and we thought, "Hmmmm." I'm going to check out your website and I'll send Tim over there, too.

[dxsmac]

Thanks so much!

Funny you mentioned electric bikes. Hubby and I were just at a street fair where a booth had them and we thought, "Hmmmm." I'm going to check out your website and I'll send Tim over there, too.

Um..... it's not... MY website. I just happen to own one of those things. Bought it in 2004. It's my "toad." Only issue is it kind of sucks when it's raining or snowing..... The company (Egovehicles.com) is located in Rhode Island, but there are VESPA scooter companies around the US that sell those EGO bikes, in addition to EVT (another electric bike, much bigger than EGO). Here is a company in Bellingham, WA, sells VESPA Piaggio, EVT, EGO, and other scooters: http://greenpeoplemovers.com/

JJ

[dlrupper]

Well after towing my HOME behind my Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel, I prefer to walk where I'm going locally instead of ride an electric bike.

I take my carbon credits for my frugal living and small carbon footprint in my small mobile domicile (5th wheel) and apply them towards the slightly bigger carbon footprint my Dodge Diesel makes as opposed to a hybrid auto.

[jonbob]

According to an article in the April 8, 2007 Oregonian(Portland, OR), a Toyota Prius has an energy cost per mile of $3.25 over it's expected 100,000 mile lifespan.

This compares to $1.95 for a Hummer over it's expected sife span of 300,000 miles, and $.48 for a Toyota Scion XB.

The main difference is the huge battery and the Environmental impact of Nickel refining plus the transportation costs of the battery mfg process.

You need to consider the total carbon footprint.

[garynrosvi]

I spent several years as a fulltimer and wrote for FMCA, Good Sam, Trailer Life, etc. One article I wrote was on this subject.

I carefully documented the expenses of traveling and documented the previous year of living in a house. We definately used less energy in my coach than in our house. The "footprint" was much lower in the motorhome. Wish I could find the article so I could give you the specifics.

Gary