Electronic Hand Dryers – Better Than Paper Towels?
Society’s thinking regarding the environment and climate is undergoing change. Electronic hand dryers are currently considered the best alternative to traditional paper towels and cloth towel rolls. But what advantages do these dryers offer – and are there any risks involved?
Environmental Friendliness
It’s now widely known that standard paper towels are not very environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, they remain the most common method for drying hands. Producing new paper and processing recycled paper requires large amounts of energy and water. In addition, paper towels indirectly consume resources that are finite on our planet.
ⓘ Did you know that recycled paper goes through up to 18 washing cycles before it can be reused?
But it’s not just paper towels that are problematic for the environment. Cloth towels, usually made of cotton, require vast quantities of water during production. They must also be cleaned after use, and since this rarely happens on-site, transportation to and from the laundry adds to the environmental burden.
According to a project by the German Federal Environment Agency (VERUM), the environmental ranking of drying methods is as follows:
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Jetstream systems (cold-air hand dryers)
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Recycled paper
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Virgin fibre paper
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Cloth towel rolls / warm-air hand dryers
Hygiene
Electronic hand dryers are often criticised for blowing bacteria around the room. However, this is not only due to the dryers themselves but also due to improper use. In our fast-paced world, proper hand washing is often neglected. If hands are not washed thoroughly and long enough, bacteria remain and can be dispersed by the hand dryer’s air stream – or accumulate on its surface. This issue can be mitigated by an antibacterial coating on the device.
Another concern is noise. It is advisable to choose models with the lowest possible decibel level, though this often comes at the expense of faster drying times.
This issue does not occur with single-use paper towels. Cloth rolls also generally avoid this problem, although it’s not always possible to use a clean section of the roll/towel, which may lead to the transmission of bacteria.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness largely depends on the frequency of use of the washrooms. We have created a comparison table, which can be found here. To make a comparison, simply enter the values you know and the calculation will be made for you. The higher the usage, the more cost-effective electronic hand dryers become.
Summary
In shared washrooms, cold-air hand dryers are recommended. From an environmental standpoint, they are the most resource-efficient option. However, due to their noise level, these devices should ideally be installed in separate rooms – which is generally the case in public washrooms. In addition, electronic hand dryers are significantly more cost-effective (see comparison table). Nevertheless, each individual should decide for themselves how they prioritise environmental friendliness, hygiene, and cost-effectiveness.
