Your selection of caravan insurance might 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 showing you a number of ways in which it is possible to enhance your relationship with the surroundings. I hope you're pleasantly surprised about precisely how easily this is often achieved.
Nowadays of increasing environmental awareness it is interesting to note a survey has shown that caravanners have greener credentials compared to the average motorist. In a poll of just one 1,000 motorists it was found that caravanners are:
more prone to use energy preservation light bulbs
more likely to use their very own shopping bags
more than twice as likely to offset the carbon footprint of flights they take
regarded by more than 75% of individuals as more environmentally friendly that people who fly with their holidays
undertaking basic maintenance on their vehicles a lot more often than non-caravanning motorists, which helps reduce CO2 emissions
7% more prone to think about their environmental effect on a daily basis
Buying Caravan Insurance
So, how does a caravan enthusiast go about helping to save the earth? Firstly, and perhaps Continue reading comes the selection of caravan insurance. Online caravan insurance providers Towergate Bakers have developed a policy that promises to deliver the carbon neutral caravan holiday. The policy is provided as a web-only product, and for that reason the savings made 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 client.
Buying A Caravan
If you are searching for a caravan, there are a variety of things it is possible to think about to attempt to enhance your eco credentials:
Aerodynamics and Weight: Both weight and the aerodynamics of a caravan impact the quantity of carbon produced when towing. The lighter and much more aerodynamic the vehicle the smaller and much more eco-friendly car can be used to tow it.
Make and Model: Caravan manufacturers such as Baileys (who's caravans are 75% recycleable) have grown to be increasingly eco-aware and also have made efforts to really improve their caravans. Increasingly recycling schemes and green manufacturing techniques are increasingly being introduced, so when searching for a new caravan include this in your research.
Insulation: Ensure the caravan is well insulated, as poor insulation can greatly affect the quantity of CO2 produced to regulate the temperature of the caravan. Also bear in mind that the less corrosive the shell of the caravan is the longer it'll last which will in turn defer the energy required in manufacture.
Power: Solar panels certainly are a great option, reducing the reliance on generators and batteries. These also prove to be cheaper over the long term.
Towing Tips
There are many of actions you can take regarding towing the caravan to reduce how much carbon emissions you create:
Regular servicing: This will help make sure that your car is using fuel as efficiently as you possibly can
Switch off your engine: In the event you end up stuck in a traffic jam and you also are obviously not likely to be moving for some time, then be sure to switch 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 your rig. And become sure to remove any roofbars when not in use
The right tow car: It's important that your caravan and car are correctly matched to ensure the efficiency of one's towing. You should check with the car 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 are towing and will bring about using less fuel. The best idea is to fill your tanks once you get to your destination
Drive sensibly: Avoid attempting to pull off like Louis Hamilton from the lights, and be sure to increase your speed gradually as that is more fuel efficient
Avoid the rush hour: Try to plan your trips so you are not travelling through the rush hour if at all possible. Also make an effort to plan your path to avoid stop/start traffic to enable you to travel at a reliable speed
Check your tyre pressure: Having the wrong pressure in your tyres causes your car to use more fuel, and will result in 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 how much 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 automobile will still be able to use standard fuel if necessary
Use BioDiesel: If you have a diesel car then fill it with BioDiesel instead of standard diesel. It really is created from sustainable vegetable material, which is normally mixed in with ordinary diesel. Your car doesn't need converting to be able 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 green site".
There is 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 year. There are three degrees of the award a site can earn, these being Bronze, Silver, or Gold. It is possible to hunt for one of these brilliant sites at bellamyparks.co.uk.
General
Finally there are many of general things you can do to become more environmentally aware, that are not necessarily caravan related, but which are highly relevant to caravan holidays:
The newer the caravan the better as caravans have grown to be increasingly better insulated over the years
Save fuel on heating by wearing an extra layer instead of notching the heating up
Recycle your plastic bags, through the use of for multiple shopping trips, or as waste sacks
Raise the insulation in the caravan through the use of polystyrene wall linings in wardrobes and cupboards, and under seating
Be sure to use charcoal from sustainable sources when barbecuing. These could have the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) recommendation on them
Only boil as much water as 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 often be within supermarket car parks.
Use low energy bulbs and turn off lights and electrical equipment when not in use
Do the washing up with the warm water you used to boil an egg
Ideally purchase a compost toilet, but failing that buy toilet fluid products - such as for example 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 under �10 you can purchase a wind up cellular phone charger
Try to walk, cycle or use public transport more when on holiday. Leave the car behind at the website
You can become self sufficient with regard to 12 volt electricity it you install portable solar panels (this can cost over �400)
Use biodegradable cleaning products
Hold onto items that are compostable for the heap at home. Things such as card food containers and Egg cartons
Separate you metal, glass and paper waste. Recycling all of the aluminium cans in the UK would result in 12,000,000 fewer dustbins filled with waste a year, and 17 trees can be saved for each ton of recycled paper
Buy locally produced food from local bakers, farm shops, and farmers' markets. This reduces the quantity of lorries on our roads
So there you have it, a brief but I am hoping useful list of methods for you to reduce your carbon footprint while taking advantage of your caravan holiday. Admittedly some of these require investment up-front, but even putting those aside, there are lots of cheap and even free ways of improving your green credentials.