Campgrounds And RV Parks Around The Country Are Investing In Solar Energy And Other Natural Resources For Power
When on the road, many RVers search for the amenities of home…and sometimes more. A growing number of campgrounds and RV parks around the country are investing in solar energy, wind-power and powerful Wi-Fi where one would least expect it.
Melton Hill Sustainable Recreation Area near Lenoir City, Tennessee, offers their environmentally conscious guests state-of-the-art energy efficiency and sustainable technologies including sites equipped with solar panels so that campers can generate their own energy. The roofing shingles used are made from recycled coal product, the water systems are solar thermal and the benches are made from recycled aluminum. A nearby dam, from which the campground derives its name, has a 70-foot tall wind turbine.
“This is probably the most sustainable recreation site in the US,” says Jerry Fouse, recreation strategy and tourism development specialist for the Tennessee Valley Authority. “There are a lot of people who come to camp here as a sort of destination site. People are very impressed with what we’ve done to make a smaller footprint when it comes to camping.”
According to Faust, the campground is completely powered by wind and solar energy. Energy requirements are reduced where possible optimizing passive solar and energy-efficiency measures. The lighting is converted to solar-powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and activated by motion sensors. Two solar thermal water-heating systems take the place of the standard electric units, and the 70-foot wind turbine generate up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours of clean and renewable energy annually.
The bottom line for the Melton Hill Dam Campground, is that these energy amenities, while not only reducing the park’s environmental impact, will save the park money.
The federal government itself provides financial incentives, grants, and tax credits when businesses switch to renewable energy technology. This includes RV parks which have the most advantage with their interrelation to the outdoors. This is further solidified in the policies of Turbo Tax which states: “If you install Energy Star-approved solar-power systems before the end of 2016, you can claim 30% of the cost as a tax credit for the year you installed it.” These possibilities and further reading are also available through Energy.gov.
In 2011, Desert Willow RV Park in Hesperia, California invested $800,000 in solar panels, but after adding in a $240,000 federal tax credit, their net investment in the project was only $560,000.
According to the park’s management company, Freestone Capital Management, Desert Willow is saving more than $100,000 on their electricity bills per year.
“The technology pays for itself after about five and a half years,” said Paul Granger, park manager. “After that it’s money coming in to the campground.”
Millennials and new RVers need and want to bring their technology on the road for everything from navigation to WiFi but also keep their eye out for the RV parks that stay up to date with new ways to produce power, energy and reliable internet access. In the current social media age, services such as Yelp are filled with comments and reviews complimenting or criticizing campgrounds based on the availability of their WiFi and solar amenities.
In New Mexico, the Carlsbad KOA installed a 2.4-kilowatt wind turbine and solar water heating system to heat their swimming pool saving them money by eliminating their local power company.
In California, the Cache Creek Campground in Yolo County was that state’s first solar-powered campground back in 2006. While this property has no other amenities, the solar panels have saved the county money on electricity.
“Our campers really appreciate what we are doing for the environment and they can usually overlook the fact that we don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi…but we’re working on it,” said Jerry Dial, a camp host at Cache Creek. “I do think people are missing out on the savings if they don’t invest in solar or wind power.”
As for Wi-Fi, if an RV park does not offer free and fast Internet, the business runs a risk of a lack of repeat customers.
Data from an Accenture survey found that free in-room internet access was ranked the second most important factor after room cost in choosing a hotel. Property-wide free access was the fourth most important factor. This thinking reflects with outdoor enthusiasts as well. “Campgrounds and RV parks [in today’s marketplace] that research and invest and stay current with campground technology tools will be miles ahead of their competition,” Fouse said.
In a changing technological world, the allure of the outdoors it seems must be balanced with those amenities that allow the consumer to remain connected even as nature beckons them forward.
Candice Reed
A graduate of Kelsey-Jenny College in Communications as well as a certified grant writer, Candice has written for The Los Angeles Times & The New York Times. She loves entertaining and all things French.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Melton Hill Dam Campground, located at TVA’s Melton Hill Dam in Loudon County, TN. The campground is upstream of Melton Hill Dam on the south bank and has a 10-15% slope with three roads tiered up the hillside.