Van Life: Is it Sustainable Living?

Society has definitely undergone a shift towards more sustainable living over the last decade or so. The public is generally much more knowledgeable about the condition of the planet, and certainly more educated about the part they have to play in ensuring a positive future. The average person is likely to know many of the things they can do to contribute to the greater good – from splitting out recyclables from their household rubbish to using a ‘bag for life’ when they visit the supermarket rather than buying a new plastic bag each time. 

When it comes to travel, is it really possible to live sustainably? Can you indulge in leisure vehicle living can you go off exploring while also being socially conscious? Aren’t there immediately some pretty big logistical factors against you? 
 

Can you live van life sustainably?

The simple truth is that it is not actually possible to live 100% sustainably, whether you are in a house or your home on wheels. 

Everything we do in the modern world is interconnected - and somewhere along the chain our own behaviour is just a part of, there will be something that goes against the beliefs we are trying to honour and our efforts to uphold them. So, in common with much of what we do, we must lean as far as possible into those things that are sustainable, and we must always be conscious of making the effort to move towards more. 

In van life there are a few major factors to do with sustainability that we can look at a little more closely, and there are various surprising or interesting perspectives on them…
 

In van life terms, what are the sustainability things I can do?
 

Things like driving for long distances when vehicles consume petrol or diesel (and therefore release a harmful greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere) go against the notion of sustainability. When you are on the road in your van you will also use electricity and water - just the same as you would in a bricks and mortar domestic environment – so how can we say it is better or preferable? 
 

How to make those things more sustainable?
 

1. Fuel:

This may come as something of a surprise, but there is a real positive to be had here. You are likely to be out on the road all the time – but how much of that time will you actually be out on the road? Alright, that’s a tongue-twisting sentence, but there is some serious logic there. Your life may be lived in your van, and you may drive your van from place to place - but how often will that driving actually take place? You might move from location to location every few days, or once a week or perhaps at intervals even further apart than that. You’ll have no daily commute to your place of work, and so over the course of (say) a week you are going to use a lot less fuel that you might imagine. If you double down on this approach, and plan your routes carefully, then you are certainly doing your bit.

2. Water:

It’s probable that you will use a lot less water in a vanlife campervan than you would in a domestic life bricks and mortar home. You are likely to be much more mindful about your usage (taking care over the time you spend in the shower, and how often you wash your clothes etc) due to your awareness of lower capacity (ie. having to store your supply onboard).

3. Electricity:

Van life means you will spend a large amount of time in your van. It is, after all, your home – and so you will need electricity to power the kitchen appliances and, perhaps, other things like your TV and charging your digital devices such as phone, tablet and laptop. It’s definitely possible to cut down your electricity usage but it’s not really possible to live in the modern age without electricity. Thankfully, it’s possible (and relatively easy) to generate your own…
 

Generate my own!? Can I use solar power?
 

Vans can run on electricity generated through the use of a solar panel. Solar power is undeniably much better for the environment than any other type of electricity generation. 
 

Are solar panels on campervans worth it?
 

By attaching a solar panel (or panels) to the roof of your vehicle you can provide enough electricity to run the things you use and charge everything you need. Using solar, you also won't have to charge your van's battery or find an electricity hook-up, as the panel should provide enough to cover these too. Although there has been a move to electric vehicles during the last decade, we are some distance yet from solar providing enough to power the actual vehicle itself. However, solar is probably the most sustainable option that you can find for powering the day-to-day aspects of van life. A couple of choice vehicles with a solar panel, or the facility to add one, are available at Wandahome.

1. Westfalia Kelsey: This four berth campervan has terrific specification, including standard feature hot water, heating while parked, fixed cassette toilet, kitchen with two gas hob and dual access with two sliding side doors by the lounge. In the context of what we’re talking about in this article, the Kelsey has electric preparation for a solar panel.
2. Adria Twin Sports 640 SGX: Built on the new Fiat Ducato, and featuring an exclusive design pop-top roof and sleeping compartment, the Adria Twin Sports 640 SGX is perfect for sporty travellers with plenty of outdoor gear, and also for families with children. The SunRoof and ‘Cabin-loft’ open-plan aesthetic make a stylish virtue of the interior – and the solar panel provides all the eco-credentials, and more importantly the electrical power, that you need.
    

What other things can I do to live a sustainable van life?
 

In common with many of the practises you will already undertake as a socially-conscious member of society, there are several ‘smaller’ things you can do to make your van life sustainable. 

• Recycling: Top of the list is recycling – and so it makes great sense to have a recycling bin in your van – it could be a box or bag, and you could position it under the driver’s seat so that it’s tucked right out of the way. Glass and aluminum should be recycled properly, and plastic or styrofoam should never be put in with ‘normal’ rubbish. Carting a load of recycling around for a fortnight might not be anyone’s dream of the perfect holiday, but the chances are high that you’ll be visiting a town or city, and so you could use the internet on your phone or device to research where the recycling centre is. If you are staying on a park or campsite for a couple of nights then it might be the case that they have a recycling bin which you can use.
• Toilet: Using a composting toilet or cassette toilet means you will reduce the amount of waste you have to dispose of. Both types of toilet separate solids from liquids with minimal water use (or none at all). Composting toilets, as the name suggests, mean you will actually turn solid waste into compost, which can be disposed of in nature. Cassette toilets collect waste in compartments, and this can be disposed of in toilets or sewers. Both types of toilet reduce the quantity of human waste that enters the sewer system and the amount of water which is wasted in flushing a ‘traditional’ toilet.
• Zero trace: This basically means leave the place you stay as you found it – or better if you possibly can. Whether you park up on a ‘proper’ campsite or on a friend’s drive, make sure that the environment, the plants and animals around are not affected by your stay or by any waste resulting from it. Treat everything around your vehicle with the utmost respect, and take all of your rubbish with you when you leave. If possible make sure there is no trace of your visit whatsoever – make the effort to ensure nobody who comes after you could even know you’d been. 

If sustainability is a big concern for you in terms of impact on your prospective on the road lifestyle, the team Wandahome will be happy to discuss your options, including eco campervans. Simply give us a call or drop us a line.