Hand Drying Footprint Calculator
Evaluate the sustainability impact of different hand-drying options in restrooms. Explore emissions, electricity consumption, and waste production for your facility.
Two single-use paper towels per person.
Annual hand-drying uses
75,000
Annual carbon footprint
1,125 kg CO₂e
Equivalent to 2,784.65 miles driven.
Annual energy use
0 kWh
Relevant for electric dryers only.
Solid waste generated
900 kg
For consumable-based solutions.
Emission per hand dry
15 g CO₂e
How to Use This Calculator
Select a drying method
Pick the technology or consumable you’re evaluating for your restrooms.
Enter usage assumptions
Provide the number of people served, how often they dry their hands, and the number of operating days per year.
Review emissions, energy, and waste
Compare results across methods to identify the most sustainable choice for your facility.
Formula
Annual Uses = People × Uses/Day × Operating Days
Emissions = Annual Uses × (Embedded Emissions + Energy × Grid Factor)
Waste = Annual Uses × Waste per Use
Example: 100 people × 3 uses/day × 250 days = 75,000 uses. Using paper towels (15 g CO₂e/use) totals 1,125 kg CO₂e annually.
Electric dryer emissions depend on both energy consumption per use and electricity carbon intensity.
About the Hand Drying Footprint Calculator
Hand drying is a surprisingly large contributor to facility sustainability metrics. With thousands of uses per year, small differences in per-use emissions can add up. This calculator helps facilities weigh consumable waste against energy use to make evidence-based decisions.
When to Use This Calculator
- Facility upgrades: Evaluate switching from paper towels to electric dryers.
- Sustainability audits: Quantify restroom contributions to carbon inventories.
- Procurement decisions: Compare vendor proposals for rental towel services or dryer models.
- Behavior change campaigns: Communicate impacts to building occupants.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Lifecycle data: Incorporates manufacturing, laundering, and electricity use factors.
- ✅ Flexible scenarios: Adjust usage, energy intensity, and waste factors to match your facility.
- ✅ Waste and carbon together: Understand both emission and landfill implications.
- ✅ Decision-ready output: Provides per-use and annual totals for quick comparisons.
Common Applications
Office buildings: Justify transitions to high-speed dryers with data.
Universities: Evaluate sustainability programs in high-traffic restrooms.
Hospitality: Balance guest experience with environmental impact.
Tips for Best Results
- Collect usage data during peak periods to refine assumptions.
- Consider renewable electricity procurement to lower electric dryer emissions.
- Use towel dispensers that ration sheets to reduce paper consumption.
- Schedule regular maintenance of dryers to ensure efficient performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paper towels better if they’re recycled?
Recycled content reduces manufacturing emissions, but most used towels still end up in landfills. Composting can lower their footprint if infrastructure exists.
Do jet dryers spread more germs?
Studies are mixed. Modern jet dryers often include HEPA filters. For conservative scenarios, weigh hygiene considerations alongside environmental impacts.
How accurate are the emission factors?
They come from reputable lifecycle analyses. Update the embedded emission numbers if you have manufacturer-specific data or energy-efficient dryer ratings.
Can I model mixed solutions?
Yes. Run the calculator separately for each method and weight the results based on the share of usage in your facility.