Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 At work I use the hot air blower to dry my hands. Does anyone have any ideas on whether towels or blowers are more environmentally friendly? Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 the hand hot air dryer is suppose to be better it uses electricity but it doesn't create towels for the waste stream..the towels themselves need energy to be created (and all the waste created in their production), and they need less of a cleanup, so that saves energy as well as harsh chemicals cheers fraggle >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Aug 17, 2006 12:02 AM > > Towels or Hot air blowers? > >At work I use the hot air blower to dry my hands. > >Does anyone have any ideas on whether towels or blowers are more >environmentally friendly? > >Jo > > > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 here's more (be warned..high sarcasm alert) Pee Ditty On paper towels vs. hand dryers By Umbra Fisk 27 Mar 2003 Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra. Dear Umbra, As an environmental science instructor, I'm often asked which is the better choice when drying one's hands in a public restroom, assuming both options are available: paper towels, with their associated disposal issues, or hand dryers, with their use of electricity, much of which is wasted. What's the answer? Curious in Iowa, Dawn Dearest Dawn, Patient multitudes have written repeatedly with the insistent query: " Hand Dryer or Paper Towels??? " Who can sleep at night while this haunting question goes unresolved? The public restroom has become a place of agony and indecision for many Gristers, and I'm sorry that I've let it go on for so long. In celebration of spring, let's banish the anxiety that wet hands can bring. But how did she dry her hands?First, dear environmental science instructor, this question would be a great class project. Students could learn about solid waste, life cycles, and activism through working with your educational institution to measure waste and electrical outputs. That said, let me sketch out what I believe to be the most environmental visit to the public restroom. First, do not choose to use the disposable seat cover. Might as well flush, because if you don't the next person will. Wet your hands, turn off the water, soap up, and scrub; turn the water back on, rinse, turn off the water. Dry your hands with .... the blow dryer. (Yes, the scanty amount of research I could find indicated that hand dryers were better than paper towels, not only in terms of energy costs and solid waste, but in maintenance and janitorial costs as well.) As you exit, turn off the lights, leaving your comrades in the dark. Better to pee in the dark yourself, actually. Practice at home first. For the record, all this sarcasm is not only to amuse myself and the two of you who have been amused, but also to remind us all that it doesn't matter very much whether you use the blow dryer or the paper towel. The impact of how you dry your hands is so small that you'd be far better off spending your time and energy on more important issues, and those where the environmental payoff is clearer -- such as converting the lighting in all those public restrooms to energy-efficient light fixtures (or convincing the powers that be to do the converting). If, however, you happen to be the manager of a building with lots of public restrooms, it would be worthwhile to investigate and install the newest, most efficient air dryers. Dryly, Umbra Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs! The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk. - - - - - - - - - - Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B. >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Aug 17, 2006 12:02 AM > > Towels or Hot air blowers? > >At work I use the hot air blower to dry my hands. > >Does anyone have any ideas on whether towels or blowers are more >environmentally friendly? > >Jo > > > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hi Fraggle That's the conclusion I came to as well. Towels also use up petrol for the vans to come and collect them, and resources for making washing powder, and the electricity for the production and washing. Jo - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx Thursday, August 17, 2006 4:22 PM Re: Towels or Hot air blowers? > the hand hot air dryer is suppose to be better > it uses electricity > but > it doesn't create towels for the waste stream..the towels themselves need energy to be created (and all the waste created in their production), and they need less of a cleanup, so that saves energy as well as harsh chemicals > cheers > fraggle > > > >heartwerk <jo.heartwork > >Aug 17, 2006 12:02 AM > > > > Towels or Hot air blowers? > > > >At work I use the hot air blower to dry my hands. > > > >Does anyone have any ideas on whether towels or blowers are more > >environmentally friendly? > > > >Jo > > > > > > > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 LOL - We don't have paper towels. They are cotton towel rolls that are taken away to be washed and replaced. Personally, I do think it matters about washing your hands the best eco way. If everyone bothered it might be quite an impact. Jo - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx Thursday, August 17, 2006 4:24 PM Re: Towels or Hot air blowers? > here's more > (be warned..high sarcasm alert) > > Pee Ditty > On paper towels vs. hand dryers > By Umbra Fisk > 27 Mar 2003 > > > Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra. Dear Umbra, > > > As an environmental science instructor, I'm often asked which is the better choice when drying one's hands in a public restroom, assuming both options are available: paper towels, with their associated disposal issues, or hand dryers, with their use of electricity, much of which is wasted. What's the answer? > > > Curious in Iowa, > Dawn > > > Dearest Dawn, > > > Patient multitudes have written repeatedly with the insistent query: " Hand Dryer or Paper Towels??? " Who can sleep at night while this haunting question goes unresolved? The public restroom has become a place of agony and indecision for many Gristers, and I'm sorry that I've let it go on for so long. In celebration of spring, let's banish the anxiety that wet hands can bring. > > > > But how did she dry her hands?First, dear environmental science instructor, this question would be a great class project. Students could learn about solid waste, life cycles, and activism through working with your educational institution to measure waste and electrical outputs. That said, let me sketch out what I believe to be the most environmental visit to the public restroom. First, do not choose to use the disposable seat cover. Might as well flush, because if you don't the next person will. Wet your hands, turn off the water, soap up, and scrub; turn the water back on, rinse, turn off the water. Dry your hands with ... the blow dryer. (Yes, the scanty amount of research I could find indicated that hand dryers were better than paper towels, not only in terms of energy costs and solid waste, but in maintenance and janitorial costs as well.) As you exit, turn off the lights, leaving your comrades in the dark. Better to pee in the dark yourself, actually. Practice at home first. > > > For the record, all this sarcasm is not only to amuse myself and the two of you who have been amused, but also to remind us all that it doesn't matter very much whether you use the blow dryer or the paper towel. The impact of how you dry your hands is so small that you'd be far better off spending your time and energy on more important issues, and those where the environmental payoff is clearer -- such as converting the lighting in all those public restrooms to energy-efficient light fixtures (or convincing the powers that be to do the converting). If, however, you happen to be the manager of a building with lots of public restrooms, it would be worthwhile to investigate and install the newest, most efficient air dryers. > > > Dryly, > Umbra > > > > > > Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs! > > The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk. > - - - - - - - - - - > > Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B. > > > > >heartwerk <jo.heartwork > >Aug 17, 2006 12:02 AM > > > > Towels or Hot air blowers? > > > >At work I use the hot air blower to dry my hands. > > > >Does anyone have any ideas on whether towels or blowers are more > >environmentally friendly? > > > >Jo > > > > > > > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 personallly..when i'm out and about... i drip dry hahahahaha i don't like hot air dryers..they just don't get my hands dry... and...papertowels are worse most places don't use cotton (or wotever) towels anymore over here due to sanitary concerns.. >jo <jo.heartwork >Aug 17, 2006 9:34 AM > >Re: Towels or Hot air blowers? > >Hi Fraggle > >That's the conclusion I came to as well. Towels also use up petrol for the >vans to come and collect them, and resources for making washing powder, and >the electricity for the production and washing. > >Jo > If George Bush said that the Earth was flat, the headline would read, " Views Differ on Shape of the Earth " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hi Fraggle If I drip dry my hands crack up. I shake my hands a lot first and then finish off with the hot air. Jo - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:19 PM Re: Towels or Hot air blowers? > personallly..when i'm out and about... > i drip dry > hahahahaha > i don't like hot air dryers..they just don't get my hands dry... > and...papertowels are worse > most places don't use cotton (or wotever) towels anymore over here due to sanitary concerns.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I admit that I usually use the paper towels in work, other places mostly either just have hot air blowers or I dont bother........... The Valley Vegan................jo <jo.heartwork wrote: Hi FraggleIf I drip dry my hands crack up. I shake my hands a lot first and thenfinish off with the hot air.Jo-"fraggle" Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:19 PMRe: Towels or Hot air blowers?> personallly..when i'm out and about...> i drip dry> hahahahaha> i don't like hot air dryers..they just don't get my hands dry...> and...papertowels are worse> most places don't use cotton (or wotever) towels anymore over here due tosanitary concerns..To send an email to - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 We don't have paper towels at work - just the roller towels. Jo - peter VV Friday, August 18, 2006 7:43 PM Re: Towels or Hot air blowers? I admit that I usually use the paper towels in work, other places mostly either just have hot air blowers or I dont bother........... The Valley Vegan................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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