As RVers, we often have a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the places we visit. This love for the outdoors naturally leads many of us to think about how we can minimize our environmental footprint while enjoying our adventures.
The good news is that eco-friendly RVing is not only achievable but can also enhance your experience by making you more self-sufficient and often saving you money in the long run.
Today, I want to share some practical sustainable upgrades and practices.
Many RVers want to be more eco-friendly. Simple things like LED lighting, low-flow showerheads, and solar panels can significantly reduce environmental impact. Composting toilets are a bigger step but offer huge water savings. This insight perfectly captures the range of options, from easy wins to more significant commitments.
Sustainable RVing is about more than just feeling good; it has tangible benefits:
Let’s look at some upgrades, ranging from simple to more involved, that can make your RV more sustainable. Many of these items can be found at RVupgradestore.com.
Impact: This is one of the easiest and most impactful changes. LED lights use up to 75-80% less energy than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs and last much longer.
Action: Replace all your interior and exterior incandescent bulbs with LEDs. They come in various brightness levels and color temperatures (warm white, cool white).
Impact: Significantly reduces water consumption without a noticeable decrease in performance for most uses.
Low-Flow Showerhead: Can cut shower water usage by half or more. Look for models with a pause or trickle valve to save even more water while soaping up.
Product Example: Oxygenics BodySpa RV Shower Kit (Known for good pressure with low flow).
Faucet Aerators: These inexpensive devices can be screwed onto your kitchen and bathroom sink faucets to reduce water flow while maintaining pressure.
Impact: Allows you to generate your own clean electricity from the sun, reducing or eliminating the need for a generator or shore power when off-grid.
Action: Install solar panels on your RV roof, paired with a good charge controller and an adequate battery bank (lithium batteries are the most eco-friendly long-term battery choice due to their longevity and efficiency).
(Refer to the previous blog post on sizing your solar system for more details!)
Impact: Propane is a fossil fuel, so using it efficiently matters. A well-functioning regulator ensures your appliances burn propane cleanly and efficiently.
Action: Ensure your propane appliances are well-maintained. A high-quality two-stage regulator can provide more consistent pressure.
Product Example: Camco 59333 Horizontal Two Stage Regulator. Auto-changeover regulators are also great for ensuring you don’t run out unexpectedly if you have dual tanks.
Impact: Drastically reduces water usage (they use no water or very little for some models) and eliminates the need for black tank chemicals. Turns waste into compost over time.
Action: Replace your standard RV toilet with a composting toilet. This is a more involved upgrade but offers significant water savings and freedom from dump stations for black water.
Considerations: Requires a different waste management process (emptying compost and urine separately). Not for everyone, but a game-changer for serious boondockers focused on sustainability.
Product Example: Thetford 31100 Bravura High Profile RV Toilet With Water Saver Sprayer
Impact: Reduces the need for heating and air conditioning, saving energy.
Action: Add Reflectix to windows, use vent insulators, improve weather stripping, and consider underbelly insulation. (Refer to the previous blog post on DIY insulation for more ideas!)
Upgrades are great, but daily practices also make a big difference:
Eco-friendly RVing is a journey, not a destination. Every small change you make, whether it’s switching to LED bulbs or consciously conserving water, contributes to a larger positive impact. By combining smart, sustainable upgrades with mindful daily practices, we can all enjoy the beauty of RV travel while doing our part to protect the planet for future generations.
Start with a few simple changes, and as you become more comfortable, explore more significant upgrades like solar or even a composting toilet. The rewards – in terms of resource conservation, cost savings, and the satisfaction of treading lightly on the earth – are well worth the effort.
Happy (and green) trails!
I’m Bill Rowell, the founder of RVupgrades.com. In 2002, I launched the business to help fellow RV enthusiasts find unique and hard-to-find products. Over the years, it’s grown to offer more than 15,000 items, with a warehouse in Eastlake, Ohio. Having owned and repaired nearly every type of RV, I bring over two decades of hands-on experience to the table. For me, this isn’t just a business – it’s a passion and a way of life that I love sharing with the RV community.
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