Posted 11-23-2009 on RV Business.com
EverGreen Recreational Vehicles LLC continues to revolutionize the RV industry as the first all-composite, eco-friendly, manufacturer to achieve the TRA Green Certified Emerald Rating for its Ever-Lite travel trailers and fifth-wheels.
The company achieved the rating on Nov. 19 and will be only RV company to introduce its 2011 line of eco-friendly trailers at the 47th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 1-3, according to a news release.
“We formulated the parameters based on the National Green Building Standard and tailored that standard to the recreational vehicle industry,” said, Mandy Leazenby, green program manager for Elkhart, Ind.-based TRA Certification Inc. ”We must extend solid congratulations to the EverGreen team, as we were positive an RV company would never achieve our Emerald Certified Green Rating. They proved us wrong. No other Emerald Certified Green companies will be at the upcoming RVIA Show. EverGreen is the only RV company to achieve this status.”
The certification was based on the eco-friendly, all composite, wood free outside wall construction with which EverGreen trailers are built, and the fact that all these materials are completely recyclable. The Certified Green Emerald Status was also based on EverGreen’s lean and green manufacturing processes that recycle all waste and even reuse window and wall cutouts as baggage doors on its products.
“Our team was extremely proud to receive this distinction upon the review of our last audit by TRA,” said EverGreen President, Doug Lantz. “It’s the honored verification of a journey we have all traveled together since we all founded EverGreen. Our vision was always towards the future, to become the RV industry’s first truly green company. We are all very proud to achieve this honor.”
I learned about the EarthBound trailer on Eugene Oregon’s George M. Sutton RV’s website months ago, and have researched everything about that trailer. I was truly impressed with the company’s product and their approach to a sustainable RV. Given how fast they move off Sutton’s lot, I check frequently to see if they have one in stock that I could touch and feel whenever I ‘m thinking of driving the I-5 corridor so I am ready to place an order when I retire after the first of the year.. I checked that today, but I didn’t get that far.
The Featured RV today was the EverGreen Ever-Lite. Like my usual style, I immediately researched the trailer by reading everything on Sutton’s site, on the company’s site and watching 10 minutes of video on the EverGreen site. I am impressed not only by the product but also by the price point as well.
I went to Sutton’s site tonight to leave a question for Mr. Sutton: “George, now that you have brought these two impressive brands to Oregon, can you write a blurb that compares and contrasts these two units?”
However, what caught my eye on Sutton’s Blog was that EverGreen has won an award from and is being promoted by TRA as EverGreen being the only unit yet to receive TRA’s “Green Emerald Rating.” In their press release, a TRA spokesperson said: “We formulated the parameters based on the National Green Building Standard and tailored that standard to the recreational vehicle industry. We must extend solid congratulations to the EverGreen team, as we were positive an RV company would never achieve our Emerald Certified Green Rating. They proved us wrong. No other Emerald Certified Green companies will be at the upcoming RVIA Show. EverGreen is the only RV company to achieve this status.”
Having been in the energy conservation (now “Sustainability”) business since the first Arab Oil Embargo in the 1970’s, and having been responsible for managing to build the second City Hall in America* to receive “Gold” from the US Green Building Council, I want to buy Green…but save as much of my retirement Greenbacks as I can.
So, George, the question becomes… what happened to EarthBound? What is the scuttlebutt and industry politics given the “Certification” by TRA? Does that affect your view on these two units?
Marion Hemphill
* P.S. Our entry would have been first, except Seattle had more political clout and beat us through the paperwork. I was vindicated a year later when I read in the Seattle newspapers that the Seattle City Hall turned out to be a lemon. Ours works extremely well! Perhaps that is EarthBound’s situation too.
Dear Ms. Hemphill:
I am thrilled to read of your excitement about these products because Martha, my wife and best friend, and I are too! We have spent the past week pouring over hundreds of Rv product at the 47th Annual RVIA Show in Louisville, Kentucky. We can share that EverGreen was the hit of the show with North American dealers trying disperately to snag this product line for their markets.
We got excited when we sold three units before they ever even reached our lot. Martha and I visited their factory when we were in Indiana a month ago reviewing the all new conventional Dutchmen trailers and 5th wheels. We could not believe how tidy the new EverGreen plant was, which was formally a huge Coachmen facility. The people at EverGreen are well financed and bring decades of experience onto the scene with a twist that hasn’t been fully explored before, at least not the this stage.
Earthbound is another company that has approached the market from the higher end. The first three Earthbounds we sold were to folks who were also interested in our flagship brand, Airstream. The interior content is much more sophisticated than that of the EverGreen. It has a look that one would expect to find in a $600,000 motorhome. It also sells at a much higher premium which means it really doesn’t compete with the less expensive EverGreen.
The Earthbound production has been idle while the management seeks out potential investors. We had hoped the secret deal they almost had signed a month ago would allow production to resume. However, when it failed to materialize, other opportunities arose that will mean even greater achievements will be forth coming. We are awaiting the revelation of some very good news in the not so distant future.
In the meantime, we are at full throttle up with EverGreen. Our incoming products of wonderful floorplans are arriving on schedule. We place even more orders in an effort to offset what is sure to be a Industry shortage of products. Many people are not privy to the insider information about our industry. Martha and I attended the RVDA’s Board Meetings, by invitation, and listened to many speakers including Richard Coon, RVIA President, concerning the industry. Make no mistake about what I am saying. All manufacturers are suffering from supply and parts shortages. The past year wiped out many key providers and there are only so many windows, componets, and other items to go around. Dometic, maker of refrigerators, Air Conditioners, and other key products, lost their Mexican production plant in a fire. They cannot replace it at this time. Consequently, all products must now be shipped in from Europe. The manufacturer’s had ample supplies to build their “projected” products, the problem is they under estimated the demand and cannot increase production enough to offset more units. As the excess inventory of two years ago and last year vanishes, the consumer will find many dealers with empty shelves.
The other issue is dealer ability to finance new products. There are only a small handful of lenders willing to provide floorplan assistance. All are very cautious about extending credit as they have in the past. Dealers simply won’t be able to conduct business as usual without careful planning. A lender will not allow inventory to sit idle without requiring a dealer to use his precious cashflow to pay down the liability. If it all sounds complex, it is. This is why the consumer needs to deal only with solid dealers and manufacturers who can weather future storms like we have just gone through.
I think it is of great merit that during this unstable period, companies like EverGreen and Earthbound have been able to penetrate the market. My hat is off to these two brands for bringing a new and exciting product onto the scene that has been so well received by the public.
As a final word of caution, don’t drag your feet if you hope to get your #1 choice. The supply will be limited, and the demand will be great. Think of it as Martha and I do. When we go to Costco, if we see something new that we like and can use, we buy it. Too many times we haven’t made the plunge only to return to find they are sold out. If it is there, we don’t pass it up. Experience has taught us. The same thing applies with our products. This is a new world we live in and the excesses of the past will not be repeated in the future. That’s my story and I am sticking to it!
Happy Trails!
George