RVBusiness, March/April 2020

Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp Renegade RV and Roadtrek Inc Kary Katzenberger product manager for the Class C Division at Forest River Inc said being green is very important for the company and theyre always looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact One of our goals on our Class C Division is we would like to get to be able to run that unit completely solar powered so that you wouldnt have to have any gas or generator to run the entire coach Thats our goal in the next two years to have that he said For example we got rid of solid wood cabinetry Katzenberger continued and we went to a recycled cabinet door Its a wrapped cabinet door and it still has a high end look but its made from recycled materials Were super excited about that Were also looking at some of our wall boards Were looking at going from Lauan to fiber woven boards That will help with reducing the wood we use but it also makes a superior quieter product The certification checklist has evolved over the years Leazenby mentioned as RV manufacturers change both production methods and component materials We always certified the actual RV and still do today she continued But now we look at the manufacturing process as points that are earned towards the product certification for what the manufacturer does like recycling waste We still look at the manufacturing level in the certification checklist but mostly its the materials 98 RVBusiness M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 2 0 and the components and the way the RV is built using new technology like CNC and other efficiencies We have to keep in touch as they change materials drop or add a line she continued So we do have to keep in contact to make sure we do a green follow up where we talk with purchasing and go through the checklist and ask if things are still the same For example she added when we first started no one was using LED lighting Now it is the standard for the industry So we must change and adapt to the new green standards technologies and even raw materials used in todays RVs Leazenby added that TRA Certification is poised for growth not only due to the expansion into other markets but also because the need to become more environmentally friendly is quickly growing among companies and consumers Its important to them that the RV has been evaluated by a third party and has a third party certification Leazenby said There are some manufacturers who slap on a greenish looking sticker with a tree or leaf poking out of it They just put that on there because they use a couple of green materials or they recycle at the plant Consumers are getting smart about that They like the third party TRA Certification We have a recognized brand she said adding that Millennials especially are seeking companies and products with a third party green certification I think theyre smarter than just to believe anything that anyone says she said They were taught better than any generation to do their research Theyre aware of false claims Theyre just better at sifting through the junk and deciding what aligns best with the products they want to buy Whether thats staying in a green campground or staying in an RV that has a green certification I definitely think theyre sensitive to the green movement Theyre smart consumers In addition TRA offers certification for single family multi family or commercial manufactured housing The company can also certify LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental BD C Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction and NGBS National Green Building Standard certifications TRA also certifies green claims by companies offering products that need to be backed by a third party stamp of verification of Eco Verified The company has also expanded its certifications to include an Energy Efficiency Certification and assists with ISO International Organization for Standardization and some human resource personnel certifications RVB