Check out the latest article on Green RVs!

http://www.rvbusiness-digital.com/marapr2020#&pageSet=48

PRESS RELEASE

AMERICAN EMERGENCY VEHICLES BECOMES THE FIRST AMBULANCE MANUFACTURER

TO BE AWARDED A GREEN CERTIFICATION FROM TRA

Jefferson, North Carolina – January 2, 2020 – American Emergency Vehicles (AEV), part of the REV Group (REVG) and manufacturer of Type I, II and Type III Ambulances
and Medium-Duty emergency vehicles, is proud to announce its vehicles are now Certified Green by TRA Certification, the first ambulance manufacturer to receive this certification. AEV was evaluated in three categories: Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality, and earned the Gold Level of Certified Green.

“The team at AEV is committed to ensuring our vehicles and facilities have a minimal impact on the environment, by incorporating innovative technology and processes designed to help us be green,” said Randy Hanson, President & CEO of American Emergency Vehicle.

Resource Efficiency

Located alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway, AEV is required to comply with stringent EPA requirements on disposal of waste and materials, and as a result, AEV production recycles numerous materials, including paint. The ISO 9001 paint process creates very little off-spray and even collects and reuses this otherwise wasted paint.  AEV is also ISO 9001 Certified for product finishing and final assembly, utilizing numerous weld fixtures and CNC equipment in the fabrication process to reduce waste and maximize material usage. The type of wood products utilized in an AEV ambulance is plantation-grown and sustainably harvested.  AEV does not utilize rain forest or natural grown wood products.

Energy Efficiency

From the AEV facilities to the vehicles, AEV has made strides to ensure energy efficiency. Onsite solar panels supply not only the AEV manufacturing plant, but also the broader community. Its ambulances are well-insulated and incorporate LED lighting, which is specialized to allow emergency personnel to more easily locate patient veins.  As an optional feature AEV ambulances can be ordered with ZeroRPM Idle Mitigation System, that is exclusive to the REV Group for ambulance applications. Designed to alleviate the expenses and complications that come from constantly running an ambulance’s engine, use of the ZeroRPM Idle Mitigation System (IMS) results in less risk to the environment and personal health. With ZeroRPM, ambulance owners will see a decrease in fuel consumption, a reduction in CO₂ emissions, and a decline in their vehicle operating costs.

Indoor Air Quality

AEV also incorporates low VOC interior components in its ambulances, including flooring and walls, meaning better Indoor Air Quality.  With emergency vehicles, it’s imperative to keep microbes at bay.  This can be accomplished with the anti-microbial coatings applied on all door/cabinet handles.

“Eco-friendly and sustainable construction/manufacturing is prevalent in the production of homes and RVs, and now we are excited to bring this green certification to ambulances,” said Mandy Leazenby, TRA President. 

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About AEV

American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) is a leading manufacturer of ambulances with an uncompromising commitment to safety and integrity.  Building ambulances to customer specifications on all chassis platforms including Type I, II, III and Medium Duty.  AEV has earned the Frost and Sullivan Award as a world class manufacturing company by demonstrating achievement across a wide variety of domains including sustainability, operational excellence, innovation and supply chain management.  AEV has also earned North Carolina’s Star award which is designed to recognize employers and who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates that meet the criteria for participation. For more information on American Emergency Vehicles, visit www.aev.com.

About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group (REVG) is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. We serve a diversified customer base primarily in the United States through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial and Recreation. We provide customized vehicle solutions for applications including essential needs (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, mobility vans and municipal transit buses), industrial and commercial (terminal trucks, cut-away buses and street sweepers) and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles ‘RVs’, and luxury buses). Our brand portfolio consists of 29 well-established principal vehicle brands including many of the most recognizable names within our served markets. Several of our brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG.  Investors-REVG

I've posted our Green Living Addendum on the website!  These are ways to live smarter in your RV or Park Model. What green tips should be added?

https://www.certifiedgreenrvs.com/green-living-addendum

Toxic Flame Retardants!

After doing a segment with Rollin on TV last week where I mentioned the soft goods in an RV (carpet, upholstery, drapes, bedding) and how they may contain fire retardants, I wanted to look into flame retardants and RV components.  I did some research and discovered that the typical mattress brands can be vague with the chemicals used in their production and flame retardant application.  However, there are non-toxic options available if you're concerned with indoor air quality and chemical sensitivities.  Also, there is a local RV component supplier, Lippert, that offers the Evergreen Performance Core mattress.  This is a low VOC, chemical free option (https://www.lci1.com/ever-green-performance-core) but can only be purchased by an RV manfacturer.

Or, try an aftermarket RV mattress by PlushBeds!

Also, here are some interesting articles on mattresses and the chemicals they may or may not contain...

https://www.getgreenbewell.com/rv-mattress/

https://www.thesleepjudge.com/safety-mattress-certifications/

https://paradigmchange.me/lc/mattress/

Certified Green RV checklist changes!

We are continuously improving our Certified Green checklist for RVs and want to know what you think about a few additions we'd like to make. . .

1. RVs are getting smarter and the use of smart technology can make RVing smarter and safer, therefore GREENER!

2. The best RVs are made in the U.S.A. and we all know that. But a lot of components are made in other countries (specifically China). I'd like to award points for components that are made in the U.S.A.

3. We should award points for lightweight RVs that can be towed by a crossover or small SUV. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?