Many RVers are deeply concerned about the environmental impact of their lifestyle, and this year The Rally provides additional opportunities to explore and participate in "green RVing".
The Great North American RV Rally, lately known simply as "The Rally", will see some 4500 RV units from nearly every state and province pull in to Albuquerque, NM between April 15 and 21, 2009. Some 10,000 travelers as well as several thousand day visitors and volunteers will be able to participate in two new "green" initiatives"" Reality RV and the Green Ideas Contest.
Reality RV
"Wilderness expert and survivalist, Brian Brawdy and his copilot will live in his biodiesel-powered Lance Model 1181 camper on the Rally grounds throughout the Rally. The couple will be challenged to show how much RVers conserve resources while living in an RV," according to Rally promotional materials.
People attending The Rally will be encouraged to watch Brawdy's activities and commentary on a large outdoor screen.
Brawdy's Lance camper is designed for alternate energy. The truck will run on biodiesel when available. Six solar panels and a wind turbine generate electricity, which is stored for various uses. Brawdy also uses rainwater collected and filtered from the RV roof for cooking, drinking and bathing.
Perhaps he will also address the effects on gas mileage of toting around six solar panels, a wind turbine and associated storage batteries and control electronics.
First Annual GO Green Ideas Contest
“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we continue to add programs and events of value to The Rally, and this year is no exception,” said Sue Bray, vice president and executive director of the Good Sam Club. “The ‘Going Green’ ideas contest will bring conservation issues to the forefront of RVers minds."
The purpose of the contest is to invent or design an idea or a modification that will accomplish one or more of the following goals in RV applications:
- Save energy
- Save natural resources
- Use recycled or reused materials
- Use clean sustainable or renewable energy
- Reduce pollution or waste
Each applicant must present a finished prototype, mock-up, or diagram of their idea, and a panel of five judges will select winning entries based the usefulness and practicality of idea to RVers, the amount of energy saved, the use of recycled and/or reused materials, and the use of renewable or sustainable energy.
RV Seminars - Save Energy, Save Money
Some of the 150-odd seminars (about 30 per day over the five-day event) and commercial booths will focus either directly or indirectly on going green. Among the many addressed visitors might expect topics such as
- Engine performance - Improving mileage
- Reducing weight (traveling light)
- New materials
- Improved solar products
- New LED lighting for RVs
With that many seminars to attend, Rally guests are sure to find some good ways to lighten up, tighten up, brighten up, and save money at the same time.
Green RV Activities Sponsors
The Green RV initiatives are sponsored by
- The Good Sam Club
- Highways Magazine
- MotorHome Magazine
- Trailer Life Magazine
RV owners realize, for the most part, that camping or boondocking in certain recreational sites, RV parks and natural areas has a heavy environmental impact. Green RV activities like those at the upcoming RV Rally in Albuquerque NM will help to reduce the footprint left by RVing.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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