ISHPEMING - An RV - with its thousands of pounds of camping and travel convenience - may not strike most people as being environmentally friendly. But in response to consumer demand for greener trailers and motor homes, the RV industry has begun turning out a different sort of RV.
"What we're doing is featuring an eco-friendly RV," said Gary Perala, sales manager at Hilltop RV Superstore in Ishpeming. "It's a beautiful trailer, aerodynamic, completely environmentally constructed.
"It's a new breed of trailer, so to speak."
The new line of RVs includes the Ever-Lite travel trailers and fifth wheels produced by a company called EverGreen.
By using a composite made of sustainable and recyclable materials, the Ever-Lite trailers are 1,000 to 1,200 pounds lighter than traditionally-constructed trailers, which can improve fuel efficiency by 7 percent.
A lighter trailer, however, doesn't mean leaving out any of the standard features like an awning.
"It's not sacrificing any of the essential equipment," Perala said.
Tinted windows and a white reflective roof also help with the energy efficiency of the trailer itself. The mattress is also constructed from recycled beverage bottles. Compared to wood paneling, the composite is longer-lasting, giving a greater lifespan to the RV, and resists mold and mildew.
EverGreen trailers have been given an emerald TRA Certification, the highest level in a third-party green certification system for homes, modular classrooms and RVs.
Johanna Boyle can be reached at 906-486-4401. Her e-mail address is jboyle@miningjournal.net.