Here's my daily dilemna... When washing my hands in the loo... What's the least environmentally damaging way of drying off my hands ? Blow dry them (made from unrenewable resource, but creates no waste).. or paper towel them off ? (renewable resource but involve energy in manufacture and creates waste)...
thx !
oli
2007-06-12 05:32:33 · 15 answers · asked by Oli 1 in Environment ➔ Green Living
It's a question I've researched myself a while ago and the simple answer seemed to be "neither - wipe them on your trousers!"
If it's between just the two though, http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/askpablo-electric-hand-dryer-o-002411.php reckons that, all things taken in to consideration, paper towels are greener but it depends on factors like how powerful the hand dryer is, how long you use it for and whether your electricity is renewable or not versus whether the paper towels are made from recycled material, how much/many you use per dry etc.
However, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/lca_handdryer_papertowels.php argues in favour of the hand dryer being greener.
Read both arguments and make up your mind from there!
2007-06-12 05:40:06 · answer #1 · answered by www.tellytunes.com 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There has been a mix review on this topic. It really depends on how much paper you use, what kind of paper you use, how long you blow dry your hands and how hot the air is.
There are significant findings that hand blow-dryers are full of microbes due to lack of maintenance. The filters need to be replaced regularly, but many public places do not do so. So blow drying can make your hands dirtier than before you wash them.
I'd say, use one sheet of paper.
2007-06-12 11:54:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
truly use a lot less extraordinarily. purchase a lot less products that are packaged with plastic. evaluate recycling in numerous options, like thrift shops and storage sales, and reusing your guy or lady stuff around the living house. turn off the water and lighting fixtures furniture/different electronics even as youre now no longer using them. ability a lot less and motorcycle, walk, or take public transit better. once you've an errand to do interior of attain on your position, why now no longer motorcycle? once you do your errands contained in the vehicle plan therefore which position you'll pass first, second, and so on, so youcontinual the least. use textile extremely of paper napkins. this can save you funds too. once you run your washer or dish washer verify to bathe an finished load. and if its yellow enable it mellow, if its brown flush it down! also in case you want to purchase produce or different products that are locally grown, the closer the better acceptable. it takes a lot of gas to provide fruit over from south united states! going vegetarian is "perplexing" for most yet an outstanding thanks to be eco pleasant. truly thinning out on the red meat and red meat might want to help immensly, as they burn up huge parts of land and placed alot of methane gas into the air, contributing to international warming.
2016-11-23 14:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by hausladen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are different schools of thought on this and that's why there're different methods.
However, look at which is more effective, and you'll buy the paper towels every time. With the blow dryers, you use energy for nothing, 'cause you end up wiping your hands on your jeans.
2007-06-12 05:36:51 · answer #4 · answered by DianA 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Paper for your butt, cloth towels for your hands.
The paper is usually recycled and is biodegradable.
The electricity used to dry your hands creates more energy use than the paper creation.
2007-06-12 05:41:19 · answer #5 · answered by docscholl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shake your hands and let them dry on their own..or wipe them on your pants. This way you are not creating waste nor are you using any resource...most environmentally friendly. Or don't wash your hands...and then you will be saving the energy needed to purify the drain water.
2007-06-12 05:37:29 · answer #6 · answered by gnomus12 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Usually the blow drier has less impact. No trees, no bleaching and pulping, no solid waste.
Or you could alswys do what my friend from Trinity College says, (Comparing themselves versus Oxford) "At Trinity, we do not P1$$ on our hands."
2007-06-12 13:44:34 · answer #7 · answered by Harrison H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're better off using the blow drier... just use it till water is not dripping off your hands then air dry...
2007-06-12 09:12:54 · answer #8 · answered by tookulit 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The blow dryer but they never dry your hands so you might as well not use public washrooms.
2007-06-12 08:32:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was thinking about that too! I heard someone talking about green issues and they said that the hand dryers were better.
Best option - wiping them on the side of your jeans?
2007-06-12 05:35:34 · answer #10 · answered by Borealis83 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋