Non EHU site 289

can fully understand your point of view although I don't share it. We started caravanning in the early 1970s with a van (avatar) that had none of the modern day refinements, as was the norm at that time.

Similar experience. Anybody who caravanned then would be well aware how little battery power was needed at that time and whilst that has increased by the use of electronic control, installed radios and heating pumps the amount of power consumed by lighting has dropped markedly on modern 'vans. 

The fact that we used the car for trips to local areas etc was enough to keep the car battery charged and many, like myself, simply connected to the car. I used this method as a sole source of electric power until 1995 when I installed mains electric to run kettle, spot lights, the fridge and a fan heater when required. This was solely because EHU had generally been included in pitch fees on sites. I still connected to the car for main lighting and water pump until my purchase of a new caravan in 2005.

Solar panels on new caravans have become pretty mainstream now. Either as part of the package or an offered accessory. The only reason that it becomes more complicated than that is people wanting to use additional equipment such as hair driers, laptops, larger TVs etc. I doubt that there are many older experienced caravanners that are not aware of the possibilities of solar panels.

What in my opinion makes a large difference at the present is the development of refillable gas. During the summer gas usage on calor might be around £1.70 a day of EHU. In Spring Autumn and Winter when gas heating might be required that is a different matter. I would expect calor to cost as much as £10 a day in Winter to heat the caravan and run the fridge etc. From what I read from Merve and others using refillables this is likely to reduce the cost to more like £3 a day.

This change could have a marked effect for some in the winter particularly with regard to choice of site. Without such a reduction in gas costs, as appears to be available with refillables, using EHU in Winter was a no-brainer in my view with gas being an expensive option even if compared to using a non facility, no EHU grass field. 

For those like me who always use main CC sites or commercials the use of refillables holds no attraction. No significant financial benefit and having to refill off site. It would take me over 10 years to recover the outlay. 

We have done short break winter vanning off EHU without using excessive gas. Probably in the depth of a very cold winter this might be a problem but your average chilly weekend not too bad. 

 Good post HH. This is about how people think now, not how people did things in the past. Views on energy consumption and production have changed and the Club could be moving forward on so many things but isn't. Their latest article on electric cars cars for instance was poor and not up to date, they continue to promote heavy energy use.

 I thought lighting in the olden days was via a gas mantle 

Brue, have to agree with your (and HH's) post.

the club rarely seem to be ahead of the curve, perferring to be reactive (although unbelievably slowly at times....) and not pro-active.

it has no interest at present in raising member awareness to a subject that might well cause them to try non-EHUing as this would, inevitibly, mean it being away from the CC network, and its commensurate income loss.

whilst some might 'give it a go' at CLs, these are still not generating income for the club and, im afraid, this is the main reason the 'club' exists.....not a derogatory comment, merely a fact of todays business life.

CC promotes many 'processes/techniques' for its members within its web pages and magazines but rarely would it sanction an article that might encourage members to consider alternatives to the club offerings.

id like to think that the club had a brief within its 'sites team' that were thinking internally about reducing energy overheads on site (im sure it does) but also that this team might present some more in depth articals about what we, the typical member, could do (should we wish to) to reduce our own requirements.

i realise that 'we' arent in a particularly green hobby (tow cars and MHs) but surely, those who generate their own electric once on site must be 'doing a bit better' (from this perspective) than those who don't....

'every little helps' as they (Tesco) might say....

thanks HH, i really enjoyed your post.

Hedgehurst - very well put indeed.   I remember a few years back a lot of noise about encouraging The David Bellamy Awards (was that the other club)  but so little since then when it has become more important to be Greener especially energy wise. 

My home solar panels are doing nicely thank you and after a year with Scottish Power I have received a £100 back and had my monthly payment reduced to £25 which is very pleasing.  It may have to be increased in winter but probably not by much.  The addition of the battery storing solar energy is helping.  I don't need to be so stingy with the hot water and I can use the power shower most of the time with water heated by the immersion free. 

I definitely think we should be encouraged to use our modern technology - I am now choosing the other club to get my non - hook up pitch discount when there is a choice it's a no brainer. 

Thanks for the various comments on my post. I feared it was turning into an essay!
Writing to the CMC seems good, thanks for that.

EasyT, your line about not many older experienced caravanners being unaware of solar, and its now being mainstream, is surely right. As noted, I'm saying it from a newbie's point of view.

Refillable gas -   high on the list of things to seriously consider, probably next year now. The ideal would be a practical way of cooking in the van that doesn't use fossil fuel derived gas but that's likely to be a long way ahead.

Maybe I've got a primitively skewed view of what one needs from a caravan, too. Lighting via a gas mantle.... MollysMummy, this time last year we were cheerfully lighting up our ancient camping gaz light, complete with a mantle that's seen around 30 years of annual use, in our tent   (yes, on a safe surface well away from the roof, with plenty of ventilation allowed!)

Our van, which we see as luxurious compared to our tents, would probably seem archeological to many here, but it's what we chose for a whole variety of reasons, including its lower drag on the towing car. Towing/driving accommodation round the place isn't a particularly green hobby indeed, but as you rightly say BB, every small move we can make to improve it all adds up.

Lots of constructive things happening on this thread - thanks Merve for starting it!

I'll just add that you reading this here are the informed and interested people who bother to come, and so the more encouraging noises we make about wanting  more "off grid" stuff  outside our echo chamber, the more useful progress we'll make. Even now there's a huge mass of people who see actually doing anything individually about going greener as quite unnecessary, impractical, likely to delay teatime and things like that, even though they're vaguely aware of it. All strength to you PippaH for your home roof panels - ain't they great?! We've driven both the dishwasher and the washing machine in turn off ours today.

Guys, can we revert to the ' How to thrive' thread please. This has been a good chat but the original OP was for info only. The 'How to thrive' thread is a sticky and if we don't use it, we'll lose it so please , see you there!!

Just be aware, HH, that because I and others are interested and like to keep up to date with things it does not mean that we necessarily back your call or are likely to make changes ourselves.

There's a world of difference between reading with interest and actually doing something.

However, I will never stand in the way of someone attempting to do things in the way they want providing it's not to the detriment of others. None of us should ever forget there is more than one way of doing things and an individual's choice is not necessarily right or wrong but what suits them best.

Good luck to you.

Perhaps its time for a "Greener" Thread to appear  Feel free HH