Electric Hand Dryers and Climate Change

Is It All A Bunch of Hot Air?

In the ongoing battle against climate change, liberals have touted electric hand dryers as a green alternative to paper towels in public restrooms. This push, similar to the advocacy for paper straws, aims to reduce waste and save the planet. However, the reality is far more nuanced, complex and, quite frankly, hypocritical.

First of all, you would need to check your brain at the door if you actually believed ANYTHING that America did to reduce climate change would have a far-reaching global impact. We are nowhere near the top of the list of big bad guys on the pollution worldwide scale. Nope, that title is reserved for China, India, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. One can argue South America, too.

Even if we fully caved in to the liberal Green New Deal mantra, it would barely offer a blip on the save the planet radar. That being said (alright, typed) let’s take a real clear look at what impact doing away with paper towels in public restrooms REALLY means.

The Push for Electric Dryers

The left’s advocacy for electric dryers stemmed from the desire to reduce paper waste in an environmentally responsible manner. On the surface, it seems like a logical step toward sustainability. But like many well-intentioned initiatives, it falls rapidly apart under scrutiny.

The Overlooked Consequences

1. Reduced Handwashing and Increased Germs: Electric hand dryers, while environmentally friendly in theory, have led to a decline in hand hygiene. Many people dislike the noise and inefficiency of these dryers, leading them to skip washing their hands altogether. This is particularly concerning in food service environments, where chefs and staff may neglect proper hygiene after using the restroom, potentially contaminating the food we eat​.
2. Noise Pollution: The noise generated by these hand dryers is more than just an annoyance. It contributes to noise pollution, which can have adverse effects on public health, causing stress and hearing issues. This is especially problematic in places like schools and hospitals, where a quiet environment is crucial.
3. Airborne Germs: Studies have shown that electric hand dryers can spread germs into the air. The high-powered air jets can aerosolize bacteria and viruses, making it easier for illnesses like the common cold, flu, and even COVID-19 to spread​​. Instead of containing germs, these dryers can act as a medium for wider dissemination. Come on now — do we really need studies on this?
4. Energy and Environmental Costs: The production and operation of electric hand dryers are not as environmentally benign as they seem. The energy required to manufacture these machines and the electricity they consume over their lifetime can outweigh the environmental benefits of reducing paper towel use. Furthermore, the materials and processes involved in making these dryers contribute to pollution and resource depletion.

Electric Hand Dryer Manufacturing

The very making of electric hand dryers for public restrooms should be reasons enough to reconsider them as a green alternative to paper towels – but it was not. Here’s why and how the manufacturing process of electric hand dryers is not as environmentally friendly as it seems:

Resource Extraction and Material Use

1. Raw Materials: Electric hand dryers are made from a variety of materials, including metals (like aluminum and steel), plastics, and electronic components. The extraction of these raw materials involves significant environmental disruption. Mining metals requires large amounts of energy and water, and can lead to habitat destruction and pollution of air and waterways.
2. Plastic Production: The plastic components in hand dryers are derived from petroleum. The extraction, refining, and polymerization processes of petroleum products contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. The production of one ton of plastic can emit up to 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide.

Energy-Intensive Manufacturing Processes

3. Manufacturing: The production of electric hand dryers involves several energy-intensive processes. These include smelting metals, molding plastic components, and assembling electronic parts. Manufacturing facilities often rely on fossil fuels for energy, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Component Production: The electronic components, such as motors, heating elements, and sensors, are complex and require significant energy to produce. Each step in the production chain—from raw material extraction to final assembly—consumes energy and emits pollutants.

Transportation and Distribution

5. Transportation: Once manufactured, electric hand dryers must be transported to various locations worldwide. This transportation, whether by truck, ship, or plane, consumes fossil fuels and results in additional carbon emissions. Since we barely make anything here in America anymore (but we do still make paper products like… umm… paper towels) The global nature of supply chains means that components may be shipped multiple times before reaching the final assembly point, compounding the environmental impact.

End-of-Life and Waste

6. Electronic Waste: Electric hand dryers contribute to electronic waste (e-waste) at the end of their lifecycle. E-waste is a growing environmental concern, as it contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. The improper disposal of e-waste can lead to soil and water contamination. Recycling electronic components is also energy-intensive and not always efficient.

Life Cycle Energy Consumption

7. Operational Energy Use: Beyond manufacturing, the operation of electric hand dryers requires electricity. Depending on the energy mix of a region, this electricity may come from coal, natural gas, or other non-renewable sources. The cumulative energy consumption over the lifespan of a hand dryer can be substantial, especially in high-traffic areas like airports and malls.

Comparative Impact

8. Comparative Environmental Impact: While electric hand dryers eliminate the need for paper towels, they introduce other environmental burdens. Paper towels, although contributing to deforestation and waste, are biodegradable and can be made from recycled materials. The environmental trade-offs between the two options are complex and context-dependent.

From resource extraction to end-of-life disposal, the entire lifecycle of these devices contributes to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption.

Far-Reaching Consequences

The left’s push for electric dryers highlights a common issue: the failure to consider the far-reaching consequences of poorly thought-out policies… yet again. The clean green nature of electric vehicles (EVs) is another supposedly well-intentioned but disastrous climate change push by liberal elites and the career politicians they fund.

While the intention to reduce waste is commendable, the practical implications paint a different picture. True sustainability requires a holistic approach, considering all aspects of environmental and public health impacts.

Conclusion

The left’s advocacy for electric hand dryers, much like the push for paper straws, exemplifies a superficial commitment to environmentalism that often ignores practical realities. By failing to account for the broader consequences—such as reduced hygiene, noise pollution, airborne germs, and the significant energy footprint of these machines—liberals demonstrate a gap between their rhetoric and the actual impact of their policies.

For genuine progress in the battle against climate change, it’s essential to look beyond headline-grabbing initiatives and adopt solutions that are actually effective, practical, and considerate of all potential outcomes to the planet and the people who live here.