How an RVing vacation affects your carbon footprint
Carbon footprint and your RV vacation (don’t feel guilty!)
You recycle. You use energy-efficient CFL bulbs. Maybe you even drive a hybrid. You feel good that you’re doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment.
Then you go on vacation…
You hop a plane, rent a car and check into a hotel. Even if you choose an economy car and take advantage of reduced maid service and limited linen replacement — if it’s even offered — one vacation can stomp out months of energy savings at home.
If you want to maintain a small carbon footprint when you vacation, RVing is the way to go green.
In a study comparing total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, RV vacations proved considerably more environmentally friendly than traditional fly/drive/hotel vacations. Conducted by travel and tourism consulting firm PKF Consulting, the study compared the CO2 emissions generated by a family of four vacationing in an RV to traditional vacations using airline, rental car and hotel accommodations. In every comparison, the RV vacation produced a significantly lower carbon footprint.
As an example, the study calculated the carbon emissions created by a family of four on a 10-day, 683-mile vacation using traditional travel methods:
- 1.93 tons CO2 — airline
- 0.19 tons CO2 — rental car
- 0.49 tons CO2 — hotel
- 2.61 tons CO2 — total carbon footprint for a fly/drive/hotel vacation
PKF then calculated the CO2 emissions created if the same family took the same trip using a recreational vehicle:
- 0.80 tons CO2 — car / folding camping trailer
- 1.26 tons CO2 — SUV / travel trailer
- 1.69 tons CO2 — Type C motorhome
- 1.35 tons CO2 — Type A motorhome (diesel)
The report compared several sample trips of varying durations to a variety of popular vacation spots. In every instance, RV vacations — no matter the type of recreational vehicle used — created a smaller carbon footprint than the same vacation using traditional fly/drive/hotel accommodations.
Next vacation, keep your carbon footprint small. Go RVing and go green!