Last Thursday, we welcomed two executives from Dyson B2B - David Walker, Managing Director of Dyson B2B and Katie Djurich, Business Development Executive. The visit was prompted by the University of Iowa’s recent investment in Dyson Airblades.
George Paterson provides a tour of UI's Energy Control Center to Dyson execs. From left: George Paterson, Liz Christiansen, David Walker (Dyson), Katie Djurich (Dyson) and Dan Heater.
The new hand dryers are being installed in several buildings across the campus. Dyson Airblades are projected to use up to 80% less energy than the current warm air hand dyers. The hand dryers work very quickly, drying hands almost twice as fast as the current dryers, 12 seconds versus 27 seconds. They work by blowing a sheet of unheated, high-powered air. http://www.dysonairblade.com/homepage.asp
The 400 new dryers will be placed in 22 buildings around campus over the next year. The first installations are scheduled for the University Services Building, Stuit Hall (formerly Old Music Building) and the Chemistry Building. All new buildings and renovations will be fitted with the Dyson Airblades. The new hand dryers will help the University earn LEED accreditation points for new campus facilities and major renovation projects in two categories: Energy & Atmosphere and Materials & Resources.
In those buildings that will have restrooms retrofitted, existing hand dryers and paper towels will be replaced with Dyson hand dryers. The complete list of buildings that will receive the new dryers will be available soon.
Dan Heater, the Facilities Management Director of Building and Landscape Services, explained to the Dyson execs that decision to invest in the new hand dryers is part of the overall effort to build a sustainable campus at the University of Iowa. Dyson, in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, has conducted a study of the environmental impacts of the Airblade. The company estimates that each use of the Dyson Airblade is responsible for generating 3.4 grams of CO2. The production of each paper towel represents approximately 16.0 grams of CO2, roughly four times greater the greenhouse gas emissions impact.
For some, leaving paper towels behind may not be easy. This is a change that takes getting used to. But during this transition time, please remember that reducing our use of paper towels reduces waste, reduces the use of trash can liners, reduces the handling of waste by custodians and reduces our carbon footprint.