Airstream to Highlight Green Technology at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show

[FordTruck]

Airstream to Highlight Green Technology at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show | RV PRO

[Aage]

"Airstream of Chicago will be featuring some of the highlights of the 2011 Airstream fleet –among many of which is the green technology that the fleet boasts."

Jeepers, I wish they had talked about what the new green technology is.

Wanna guess?

OK, I got a couple:

1. AS TTs are all made primarily of AL, which is easily recyclable.
2. Since they also use a metal frame (more AL), the roof and walls won't dissolve in the rain (we won't talk about floors, though) therefore longevity is better on their TTs compared to SOBs.

Anybody else have some?

[Gene]

Looks like it's just PR crap from a dealer, not the company itself.

But to add to Aage's list:

3. Aerodynamic so less fuel consumption for the tow vehicle.
4. LED's available.
5. If you stay in a trailer they don't have to build more wasteful hotels and motels.

Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement. Better insulation and windows would be a good start.

Gene

[cameront120]

The simplest way to be 'green' is to simply get materials from local sources, rather than from suppliers who import from far afield, thus cutting down on shipping and the resulting greenhouse gases, large carbon footprint, etc.

[overlander63]

The '011's are coming from the factory with "Certified Green" stickers on them, so it isn't just a dealer propaganda thing.

[Aage]

What is it that they mean, Terry? What is green that wasn't before?

[markdoane]

Evidently Airstream is gold level green certified. Sounds like they are bootsrapping on the Green Bay Packers colors.

[SpaceEgg]

I hauled a bag of empty cans to Airstream and drove away with a shiny new trailer.

Oh snap, am I dreaming again?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Aage

What is it that they mean, Terry? What is green that wasn't before?

http://www.tragreen.com/news.aspx/20...oes-green-mean

[Gene]

Here are other RV's that are also certified: Certified Green by TRA Certification

I doubt the certification by this organization is very strict because of the poor insulation and single pane windows. Green certification for houses and other buildings is quite strict and I doubt an Airstream could pass those tests. There are several, at least, organizations certifying things as green and I don't know whether TRA is objective or strict.

Gene

[Aage]

Thanks for that info, you two. I totally misunderstood what they were talking about, but now it's clear: the green side of it has only to do with the manufacturing process, and not with the product at all.

The only one of the items listed on Terry's link that has to do with the trailers is reduced VOCs, although their intent has to do with VOC reduction as far as manufacturing, the way it's worded.

So, if that's true, don't hold your breath waiting for better air seals or improved insulation, Gene.

Oh well, it's a good step in the right direction...

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by Aage

So, if that's true, don't hold your breath waiting for better air seals or improved insulation, Gene.

Well, of course, your house has to just sit there and keep you warm when it's 20 below zero outside. So insulation and seals are important.
Your Airstream, on the other hand, can take you south where it's warm!

This TRA Green looks like an organization (non-profit, of course) created to make a quick buck by "certifying" all kinds of manufacturers so they can put another sticker on their product. Remember ISO 9000? For that matter, remember Zero Defects? (Probably too long ago for most of you.)

GE used to have a slogan, "Progress Is Our Most Important Product."

Organizations like this can boast, "Hype Is Our Most Important Product."

Cheers,
Nuvi
(Resident Curmudgeon)
.

[pgr32e]

And here I am still trying to get my head around carbon credits

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Aage

So, if that's true, don't hold your breath waiting for better air seals or improved insulation, Gene.

Oh well, it's a good step in the right direction...

A good, but very small step. Not holding my breath.

Gene

[Ag&Au]

I've found that when parked in or near a grove of evergreens, our Airstream looks green from certain angles.

Also I am sure if it were parked uncovered in the Puget Sound area for a while, it would soon be green.

Ken

[Gene]

Originally Posted by w7ts

I've found that when parked in or near a grove of evergreens, our Airstream looks green from certain angles.

Also I am sure if it were parked uncovered in the Puget Sound area for a while, it would soon be green.

Ken

So that's how it's done! Can you get a tax deduction for that?

Gene

[Denis4x4]

Nobody mentioned that it takes a lot of "green" to buy an AS!

[Ultradog]

The whole notion of hauling a 3 ton camper around the country with a comparably sized tow vehicle powered by a belchfire V8 is not terribly green to begin with.
But if it makes some folks feel better to conserve a few electrons by using LED lights then more power to them. It is America after all.
But let's not think we're fooling anyone by going green in a travel trailer.

[Ag&Au]

As long as we're on the subject, why on earth did they pick the color green? Green is the color of soggy mossy places and swamps.

Blue is a lot prettier and it looks cleaner too. Blue is the color of the atmosphere and oceans that keep us alive.

Green is the color of Godzilla, crocodiles, green mambas, and other bad things that are out to get us.

Ken

From now on I'm going blue.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by w7ts

Green is the color of Godzilla … and other bad things that are out to get us.

Ken

From now on I'm going blue.

I'd be careful about what I said about Mr. Godzilla.

Gene