Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Use the electric hand dryer in the public restroom.
Public restrooms often have paper towel dispensers and electric dryers; opt for the electric dryer if you have the choice. Electric dryers are twice as efficient as paper towels.
The electricity that powers that powers the hand dryers generates greenhouse gas but the environmental impact is still smaller compared to the energy used to manufacture paper towels. Plus, paper towels are often made from virgin wood fibers, not recycled materials, and bleached with chlorine, which can pollute soil and groundwater.
My favorite “green” pin this week is how to clean the burners of your stove with ammonia — no scrubbing involved!
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.