7 Effective Ways to Save Energy While Camping

7 Effective Ways to Save Energy While Camping

The number of RV-owning homes has reached a record high of 13 million, bringing the total number of camper households in North America to an astounding 94.5 million. Slightly more than half of RV campers always bring along at least one member of their immediate family.

While camping is typically thought of as a way to get away from the stresses of everyday life, it can also be a great way for the whole household to learn about the need to conserve energy by finding ways to save energy while camping.

By learning about and putting into practice energy conservation, campers can save money and help preserve the natural world that they love so much.

Cut Down on the Number of Electrical Gadgets

In the modern world, many people depend on having access to reliable electricity to run their own electronic devices. A single individual may have multiple mobile devices (phone, tablet, computer, e-reader, etc.). Each of these is fantastic on its own, but charging for them can be a significant drain on resources. So you could just go camping with your phone, which you can use for communication and playing Slots lv online when winding down.

Try to limit the number of power-hungry gadgets you bring on your boondocking trip. Only one or two will do the trick. Bringing everything with you may seem like a good idea at the time, but in the long run, you’ll be using more energy than you have and may not be able to charge anything. Saving power requires only one computer or phone per person.

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Use LED

Changing the interior and exterior lighting in an older camper trailer, motorhome, or caravan to LEDs is a terrific method to lessen the load on the house batteries while glamping or traveling in remote areas without access to utility power. LED fixtures are available to replace traditional incandescent globes and even some halogen fixtures.

In any case, if it does not work, it’s still a good idea to replace the fixture entirely. It’s not challenging. Also, take care to strategically place your LED lights. One well-placed light can often replace the need for two lesser ones.

Turn Off the Heater and Water Pump at Night

The RV’s battery also supplies energy for the RV’s water system. If you run out, you won’t have any water for drinking, bathing, or washing dishes.

It is recommended that you turn off the water pump and the water heater every night to save energy. Both of these will slowly deplete your battery if you leave them on. Water consumption drops significantly at night, so this shift shouldn’t affect your daily life too much.

Turning the water off at night and on again in the morning should become routine. It requires little work but has a big payoff in terms of improved energy savings.

Maintain Your Battery

Several things can be done to extend the life of the batteries in your tow vehicle and your camper’s on-board systems. The simplest and, possibly, most crucial thing is to keep them clean, especially the terminals and retaining brackets.

Using a wire brush to clean the terminals well will prevent power loss and make the battery last longer. When driving on rough terrain, the weight of the battery and the vibrations can cause the battery’s retaining brackets to become loose.

Use Battery-Operated and Manual Devices

Keep your number of electronic gadgets to a minimum. Many options exist now, and some even function without any sort of power supply at all! As an alternative to an electric coffee grinder, you might, for instance, use a manual one.

Try to find portable electric equipment that can function without being plugged into your car’s power outlet. If they operate on their own power source, you can play with them all day long. Try to find gadgets that have long-lasting batteries so you won’t have to constantly replace or charge them.

Beef Up Insulation

All recreational vehicles have insulation, although it may not be ideal. Sometimes they have scorching summers and frigid winters, and vice versa. Heating and cooling systems use a lot of power, and leaving them on all the time will quickly deplete a battery’s reserves. Reduce the RV’s HVAC system use and increase the insulation’s R-value as much as possible to save power.

First, examine the weather-stripping and caulking around your windows and doors. If this is worn, air will be able to go through. If you find any leaks, make sure to seal them up immediately. Moreover, you might try covering your windows with either store-bought or homemade materials to keep the heat inside. To add an extra layer of insulation with minimal effort, you can throw towels or quilts over the window.

You will need to find other ways to warm up or cool down whenever your heating and air conditioning systems are not in operation. Get high-quality seasonal bedding as well as battery-operated fans and heaters. In the hot summer months, you could even open the windows of your RV and let the fresh air in. In order to extend the life of your battery, turn off your heater whenever possible.

Switch to Renewable Energy

You can take your first steps toward protecting the environment by using the renewable energy source that is used the most. Reduce your RV’s energy use by installing solar panels. An unlimited supply of clean, renewable solar power is available worldwide, even on gloomy days.

It keeps electronic devices like lights, chargers, heaters, and home appliances working. Even if your campsite doesn’t have access to electricity, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring along your TV, fridge, and lights for a relaxing evening under the stars.

Instead of using a dryer, you can save electricity by air-drying your items on a clothesline. The wind is another untapped and free source of energy. It can dry anything you wash, and even a clothesline could be set up effortlessly anywhere you go camping.

One worthy objective is to reduce propane consumption. Even though propane is easy for campers to take with them because it is portable, it is also a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, which are a major cause of global warming. Grill to your heart’s delight without using any propane. Everyone in the household can get involved in the fun of preparing a meal for the barbecue.

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Conclusion

There are several additional methods to save energy when camping; the secret is to turn everything into an adventure and keep it interesting. The whole family will eventually reach the point where conserving energy, even when they are camping, will be automatic for them.

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