CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF shows "Green Caravanning" New Caravanning Products good to Resources and Environment

At CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF 2010, from 28 August to 5 September, the Caravanning Industry Association (CIVD) presents information on environmentally friendly travelling with caravans and RVs in its "Green Caravanning" presentation. The first diesel particulate filters were already presented at CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF 2009 and have meanwhile been retrofitted in several older models. In addition there are many other ways to save energy and reduce emissions. With the special "Green Caravanning" show, CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF 2010 offers a market overview of currently available environmentally friendly caravanning products and components, as well as an initial forecast of green products that will be hitting the market in the near future.

The Caravanning Industry Banks on Environmental Protection
A healthy environment is the natural basis for a caravan or RV holiday. This is something that CIVD Director General, Hans-Karl Sternberg, is well aware of: "For this reason our industry is working toward sensible handling of resources and ongoing optimisation of its products in regard to environmental sustainability."

This includes the continuous weight optimisation of the vehicles and improvement of wind resistance values, as well as energy-efficient, low-emission engines. High-mileage diesel engines with common rail injection are standard in new RVs, while older engines are achieving the values necessary for the green placard thanks to the new particulate filters. Alternative powertrains are also a topic: A new hybrid solution for RVs will be shown during the "Green Caravanning" presentation.

Showmobile Shows Environmentally Friendly Accessories

In the centre of the "Green Caravanning" presentation stands a specially modified RV that really packs a wallop: This ten-year old vehicle has been retrofitted with state-of-the-art accessories that serve to protect the environment or reduce energy consumption. Next to a diesel particulate filter, the vehicle received a rear seat heater with oxi-cat, as well as a conventional methanol fuel cell and a newly developed LPG fuel cell. But that's not all: There's also a refrigerator and a cooker, both extremely energy-efficient yet powerful, energy-saving long-life LED lamps and a toilet with a ceramic inlay that uses very little water when flushed. The installation of tinted windows lowers the inside temperature by approximately 3 degrees centigrade on sunny days, saving air conditioning energy. Solar technology has been utilised successfully in the caravanning industry for quite some time already. In addition to the solar satellite system that will be shown, a prototype of an innovative solar awning has been installed on the show vehicle. A lightweight chassis contributes to weight optimisation, as does a lightweight door that weighs in at a mere 12 kg.

Caravanning is an Especially Environmentally Friendly Holiday

Caravanning is an especially environmentally friendly holiday. This has been shown in a study conducted by the Öko Institute in Freiburg in 2007 on behalf of CIVD that analysed the climatic effects of caravan trips. Greenhouse gas emissions from RV trips were calculated and compared with other forms of travel such as automobile and airline travel with overnight stays at a hotel. The results showed that caravanning is one of the most environmentally friendly holiday possibilities. On average, RV trips generate approximately one third fewer greenhouse gas emissions than any other method of travel. Even considering the fact that caravanners travel more per year than other holidaymakers, they generate one sixth fewer travel-induced emissions than the others.

Caravanning holidays on certified eco-camping campsites are especially environmentally friendly. The Ecocamping Association has taken up the cause of environmental protection and nature preservation, safety and quality management at campsites, and consults and certifies campsite wishing to implement a quality management system. To date 224 European campsites have been awarded the Ecocamping Environmental Management Certificate.

Dates and Facts on CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF

CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF 2010 takes place from Saturday, 28 August, to Sunday, 5 September 2010, from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm daily. The trade fair opens a day early on Friday, 27 August, exclusively for trade visitors and media representatives. 1-day tickets for adults costs 12 euros, and 2-day tickets are available for 19 euros. Children, students and CARAVAN SALON Club members may purchase tickets at a discounted rate. Tickets purchased in pre-sale include free travel to and from the fairgrounds via the VRR linked transport system on the day(s) of your trade fair visit (DB second class). Tickets purchased at the box office include free return travel within the VRR area. Tickets will be available as of August in all VRR customer centres and, for ADAC members, in all ADAC offices. DCC members may order tickets through DCC. Further information and news about CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF are available on the Internet at www.caravan-salon.de.