Your selection of caravan insurance may seem an unusual factor in becoming more green in your caravanning pursuits. Nonetheless it is one of a number of ways in which you can lessen your carbon footprint. This short article aims to show you several ways in which it is possible to improve your relationship with the surroundings. I hope you are pleasantly surprised about just how easily this is often achieved.
Nowadays of increasing environmental awareness it really is interesting to note a survey shows that caravanners have greener credentials compared to the average motorist. In a poll of just one 1,000 motorists it had been discovered that caravanners are:
more prone to use energy conservation light bulbs
more likely to use their own shopping bags
more than twice as likely to offset the carbon footprint of flights they take
regarded by more than 75% of people as more green that people who fly with their holidays
undertaking basic maintenance on the vehicles a lot more often than non-caravanning motorists, which helps reduce CO2 emissions
7% more prone to consider their environmental effect on a daily basis
Buying Caravan Insurance
So, so how exactly does a caravan enthusiast start helping to save the earth? Firstly, and perhaps just a little surprisingly comes your choice of caravan insurance. Online caravan insurance providers Towergate Bakers have developed a policy that promises to provide the carbon neutral caravan holiday. The policy is provided as a web-only product, and for that reason the savings manufactured in postage and processing time are to be used to offset the policy holders caravan related carbon emissions at no extra cost to the the customer.
Buying A Caravan
If you are searching for a caravan, there are a variety of things you can think about to try to improve your eco credentials:
Aerodynamics and Weight: Both weight and the aerodynamics of a caravan impact how much carbon produced when towing. The lighter and much more aerodynamic the vehicle small and more eco-friendly car can be used to tow it.
Make and Model: Caravan manufacturers such as for example Baileys (who's caravans are 75% recycleable) have become increasingly eco-aware and have made efforts to improve their caravans. Increasingly recycling schemes and green manufacturing techniques are increasingly being introduced, so when looking for a new caravan include this in your quest.
Insulation: Ensure the caravan is well insulated, as poor insulation can greatly affect the amount of CO2 produced to regulate the temperature of the caravan. Also bear in mind that the less corrosive the shell of the caravan may be the longer it will last which will subsequently defer the power required in manufacture.
Power: Solar panels certainly are a good option, reducing the reliance on generators and batteries. These also end up being cheaper over the long term.
Towing Tips
There are a variety of actions you can take regarding towing the caravan to lessen how much carbon emissions you create:
Regular servicing: This will help ensure that your car is using fuel as efficiently as you possibly can
Turn off your engine: Should you end up stuck in a traffic jam and you are obviously not going to be moving for some time, then be sure to turn off your engine. This can be a good idea to cut your emissions even though you are not towing a caravan
Roof box: Choose a profiled roofbox for your car as this assists the overall dynamics of one's rig. And become sure to eliminate any roofbars when not in use
The right tow car: It's important that your caravan and car are correctly matched to guarantee the efficiency of your towing. You should talk with the automobile and caravan manufacturers for recommendations and guidance
Carry less water: Some individuals carry gallons of the stuff many, many miles, that is unnecessary. Reducing the total amount lowers the weight you're towing and will result in using less fuel. The best idea is to fill your tanks when you reach your destination
Drive sensibly: Avoid trying to pull off like Louis Hamilton from the lights, and become sure to improve your speed gradually as this is more fuel efficient
Steer clear of the rush hour: Try to plan your trips so you are not travelling during the rush hour if possible. Also make an effort to plan your path to avoid stop/start traffic to allow you to travel at a reliable speed
Check your tyre pressure: Having the wrong pressure in your tyres causes your vehicle to use more fuel, and may bring about creating an unnecessary extra 10 kilos of SKIN TIGHTENING AND for every 500 miles you travel
Slow down: Cutting your speed by 10mph will result in a substantial decrease in the quantity of CO2 you produce per mile
Switch to LPG: This costs approximately �1700, however the fuel costs half the price of regular petrol. It really is increasingly available at the pumps, and after conversion the vehicle will still be in a position to use standard fuel if necessary
Use BioDiesel: For those who have a diesel car then fill it with BioDiesel instead of standard diesel. It is made from sustainable vegetable material, which is normally mixed in with ordinary diesel. Your vehicle doesn't need converting to use it
Choice Of Site
The green bug has even bitten Caravan sites themselves, backed by the both Caravan Club and the Camping And Caravanning Club. The latter have increased energy efficiency and recycling, introduced eco-friendly materials, and included more honeycomb grid hardstanding which enables the grass to cultivate. Indeed its Windermere site has been hailed by The Guardian newspaper as Britain's "most environmentally friendly site".
There's even an award scheme for green sites. The scheme, set up in 1996 in a joint venture between conservationist David Bellamy and the British Holiday and Home Parks Association saw 620 sites receiving an award this season. There are three levels of the award that a site can earn, these being Bronze, Silver, or Gold. You can hunt for one of these sites at bellamyparks.co.uk.
General
Finally there are many of general actions you can take to become more environmentally aware, that are not necessarily caravan related, but which are relevant to caravan holidays:
The newer the caravan the higher as caravans have grown to be increasingly better insulated through the years
Save fuel on heating by wearing a supplementary layer instead of notching the heating up
Recycle your plastic bags, by using for multiple shopping trips, or as waste sacks
Raise the insulation in the caravan by using polystyrene wall linings in wardrobes and cupboards, and under seating
Be sure you use charcoal from sustainable sources when barbecuing. These will have the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) recommendation on them
Only boil as much water when you are going to use
If your site does not have recycling facilities, make the effort to take your waste to municipal recycling points while on the way home. These can frequently be found in supermarket car parks.
Use low energy bulbs and switch off lights and electrical equipment you should definitely in use
Do the washing up with the warm water you used to boil an egg
Ideally buy a compost toilet, but failing that buy toilet fluid products - such as Thetford's Aqua Kem Green - which are formaldehyde free
On-site sinks are deeper and need more water to wash the dishes than doing them in the caravan
Buy yourself a solar powered or a wind up radio
For less than �10 you can buy a wind up cellular phone charger
Make an effort to walk, cycle or use public transport more when on christmas. Leave the car behind at the site
You can become self sufficient in terms of 12 volt electricity it you install portable solar power panels (this can cost over �400)
Use biodegradable cleaning products
Hold onto items that are compostable for the heap at home. Things like card food containers and Egg cartons
Separate you metal, glass and paper waste. https://staticcaravansalescumbria.com/best-used-static-caravans-cumbria/ in the united kingdom would result in 12,000,000 fewer dustbins full of waste per year, and 17 trees could be saved for each ton of recycled paper
Buy locally produced food from local bakers, farm shops, and farmers' markets. This reduces the number of lorries on our roads
So there you own it, a brief but I hope useful list of methods for you to lessen your carbon footprint while taking advantage of your caravan holiday. Admittedly a few of these require investment up-front, but even putting those aside, there are lots of cheap and also free means of improving your green credentials.