RV Lifestyle
Green Savings: 4 Ways To Cut Energy Costs While Camping In An RV
RV adventures are a great way of building timeless memories. You get to escape your daily routine, discover a new destination (or revisit a favourite place of yours) and experience time at a slower pace. However, going on adventures rarely comes without a price tag!
Let’s be honest: we all love to save money when we can. To help you save on your energy bill, try out these tips on your next RV adventure. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also save energy – which is pretty crucial when you’re not hooked up to shore power and running off of battery power!
- Solar energy. Solar power usually is the first thing people think of when it comes to saving money on electricity, and that’s for good reason: it works! You have two options here: 1) have an RV technician install permanent solar panels into your RV’s electrical system, or 2) purchase a portable panel for temporary use. An Anderson plug will connect the portable panel to the solar charger, which will be your go-to power source. If you haven’t used solar energy before, feel free to ask your local Fraserway RV Parts & Camping Store for tips, advice or guidance on installing the panel.
- Batteries. 6 plus 6 equals 12, but you’ll get way more energy for your buck by using two 6-volt batteries instead of a 12-volt battery. To wire two 6-volt batteries in a series to produce 12 volts, simply connect the load to the positive terminal of battery #1, and then connect the negative terminal of battery #1 to the positive terminal of battery # 2. Ground the negative terminal of battery #2, and you’re good to go!
- LED bulbs. Did you know that switching from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs will give you an 11-to-1 energy ratio? Yes, you will pay a bit more up front, but LED lights have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours. This one-time buy will keep your RV well lit for many camping trips to come!
- Turn it all off. Who remembers being told as a kid, “If I had a nickel for every time I turned the lights off in a room after you left, I’d be rich!”? Well, it turns out that we were told this for a reason: leaving lights on when they’re not needed is an unneeded use of electricity. This is especially true when you’re dry camping and relying on battery power, and it applies to all electronics in your RV like the TV or stereo system. So, when it doubt, turn it off!
Bonus: Plug it in, plug it in! Whenever you have the option to plug into shore power, take advantage of it. It saves you from the run the risk of being surprised with a dead battery.
