T.R. Arnold and Associates Certification, a leading independent certification agency, just announced that Lance Camper has been awarded the Certified Green designation. According to the press release, Lance travel trailers and truck campers have both earned the Emerald level of certification with optioned solar units receiving Emerald off-grid status, the highest ratings by the company!
“Lance is the first truck camper manufacture to earn Green Certification. We are excited to have such a forward-thinking company in the program,” says Mandy Leazenby, TRA Certification president. “Being an RV manufacturer in California comes with more strict requirements on product emissions, so Lance has always been ahead of the game!”
“The Lance manufacturing campus blew me away, and it was exciting to see a manufacturer so knowledgeable about even the most minor components in its RVs,” says Leazenby. The manufacturing campus includes 420 solar panels, climate-controlled zoned heating and air conditioner, motion-controlled lighting mixed with natural lighting and extensive recycling. Lance campers are manufactured in Lancaster, California, which is the top solar producer in the country! The manufacturing plant benefits from the solar energy available, and it also sends it back into the grid.
For their Green Certification, Lance units are evaluated in four categories, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality.
With regards to Resource Efficiency, Lance production recycles, or reuses over 90 percent of manufacturing waste. They utilize numerous jig and CNC systems to reduce waste and maximize material usage. Several materials are cut to size by the supplier, and many materials are shipped using reusable shipping containers. Lance RV construction contains very little wood, and the Euro-lite cabinets utilize poplar, which is sustainably harvested.
In the category of Energy Efficiency, Lance units are well-insulated and incorporate LED lighting. The roof is ENERGY STAR rated, and the air conditioner is ductless. Lance units are pre-wired for solar panels both on the roof and on the side, so you can park in the shade and move a portable solar panel to a sunlit area.
These units are Water Efficient by containing a low-flow toilet, lavy faucet and shower head. Lance travel trailers use either tankless water heaters or an energy efficient combination furnace and water heater.
With regard to Indoor Air Quality, Lance campers incorporate large numbers of low VOC interior components, including sealants, composite walls, carpet, hard flooring. Some carpet is used, but units use mostly low VOC hard flooring, which makes for easy clean-up and healthier Indoor Air Quality. It’s challenging to access high VOC emitting interior sealants in California, so these units use low VOC adhesives and sealants as well as low-VOC cleaning products. Lance also has a mercury-free policy, which means that for components such as electronics and mattresses, Lance chooses a supplier that offers a mercury-free option, making the RV even safer!
Leazenby says, “Lance is setting the standard for green very high and I’m hoping it excites other manufacturers to compete for green-ness! These products aren’t just built green; they’re built smarter.”
“At Lance, our Eco contribution is attuned to the breath of Mother Earth—conforming to nature rather than the other way around,” states Gary Conley, National Sales Manager for Lance.
For more information on Lance Camper, visit www.lancecamper.com. Look for the “Certified Green” labels on RVs and Park Models to ensure a healthier and more efficient living space.
Visit the Green Certified RVs website at www.certifiedgreenrvs.com.
I am happy to read Lance is embracing such forward thinking production standards even though most of what was mentioned is probably required by the state of California.
From my point of view, the single best item mentioned was that Lance installs a solar hook up on the side of there campers for those consumers who opt for portable solar panels.
The bottom line with me however is still quality and price. I continue to believe Lance has a long way to go in those departments. Being “green” sounds good to Californians but it is really just a matter of being compliant while they do business in California and lets face it, the savings earned from such practices is not going to the consumers.