Which drying method is greener for your restroom?
A lifecycle analysis by MIT found that standard warm-air dryers produce approximately 9-40 g CO2 per use versus 10-20 g for paper towels (depending on recycled content and disposal). High-speed jet dryers (like Dyson Airblade) are the clear winners at just 3-5 g CO2 per use. However, the comparison isn't straightforward: paper towels generate solid waste (2-3 sheets × 3 g each = 6-9 g waste per use), while dryers consume electricity. A busy restroom with 200 uses/day goes through over 100,000 paper towels annually — roughly 300 kg of waste. The cost difference is dramatic: paper towels cost $0.02-$0.03 each ($2,000-$6,000/year for a busy restroom), while a jet dryer costs $100-$200/year in electricity. Hygiene-wise, jet dryers can spread bacteria through air dispersal, while paper towels physically remove bacteria through friction.