There are numerous qualities a hand dryer should possess to be deemed top-of-the-line, including using less than 100 KJ of energy per use and saving you a significant amount of money over time. Although nearly all hand dryers leave a smaller carbon footprint than paper towels, the best hand dryers use up to 90 percent less energy than their conventional counterparts.
Energy Efficient
In comparison to paper towels, hand dryers are far more environmentally friendly. Paper towels end up in landfills and pollute the earth over time. In fact, manufacturing a single ton of paper towels can use up to 42 gallons of gasoline, 17 trees and close to 7,000 gallons of water. The most efficient hand dryers, however, use minimal energy and reduce your carbon footprint substantially through using less kilojoules of energy. A standard hand dryer uses close to 250 KJ of energy, but top-of-the-line hand dryers use closer to 50 KJ.
Cost Effective
Premium hand dryers do not have to be expensive and can actually save you a substantial amount of money. A single paper towel costs around 0.1 cent. Assuming every person who uses your restroom takes two sheets, just 50 people end up costing $1. This does not take into account the maintenance cost associated with restocking the towels, emptying the trashcans and picking up paper towels that ended up on the floor.
For comparison, the operating cost of running a high-quality dryer is typically less than $20 per year. You will be eliminating landfill waste as well as the unnecessary maintenance and operating cost of maintaining paper towel dispensers.
Reputable and Impressive Accreditations
Green certifications are an important factor to consider when deciding on the best dryers for your business. How do you find the most sustainable dryers that use far less energy than conventional dryers? First, look for LEED certification. LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and dryers that are LEED certified qualify for a variety of impressive standards. Additionally, research to see if the hand dryer you’re interested in is GreenSpec Listed. GreenSpec is an independent company in the UK that promotes sustainable building products.
Reducing the carbon footprint of your business is as simple as replacing your paper towel dispensers with sustainable, high-quality hand dryers. To ensure you pick the best hand dryers, seek out options that have used less than 100 KJ of energy per use, offer a variety of credits and certifications and save you money.
