After reading this post, don’t forget to enter our contest – you could win a new dishwasher. Plus, do you have your own story to tell? Send it to greenchallenge@canadianliving.com (no more than 300 words, please), and you could win one of 30 daily prizes.
I’ve always sort of had a vague idea that hand dryers were better to use environmentally than paper towels, but the fact that this is actually written on some hand dryers has always made me suspicious. But considering how often I wash – and therefore dry – my hands at work (and generally choose the paper towel because it’s faster), I finally decided to look it up.
One of my top go-to sources for questions like this is Umbra, the advice columnist at environmental news site grist.org. She agrees with the hand-dryer companies: they’re the better choice when it comes to going green. So from now on, I’m going to try my best to use the dryer instead of the paper towel. (It’s less drying on your hands, too.)
At home, of course, I assume you’re all using proper towels to dry your hands, rather than paper towels. And for the odd occasion when you need to use a paper towel, don’t forget to buy unbleached and recycled.
What are some of the little, everyday things you do to go greener? What are your thoughts on paper towels and hand dryers?
Today’s code word: wash
Read more:
• Free 52-week green-living plan
• 10 ways to conserve water in your home
• Healthy home: How to improve indoor air quality
At home, we still use cloth towels. Also, we re-use cling wrap, ziplock and plastic containers and re-sealable that groceries come in. We recycle everything that we can, and usually end up with only one (grocery size) bag of compost each week.
My roommate and I also use cltoh bags for grocery shopping and take the bus or walk wherever we need to go. Our home is stocked with environmentally-friendly cleaning products and we watch our water consumption by taking short showers and not leaving the water run when washing our hands, brushing our teeth or rinsing produce.
There are so many little things that individuals can do, it’s usually just a matter of getting into the habit of doing them. Once it’s a habit, you don’t think anything of it!
Comment by Lisa — April 14, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
I have to admit, I like the paper towel if one is available. But the reason is, I use it to open up the bathroom door. A friend did a university study where she counted how many people wash their hands after using the facilities (well, she checked women). Approximately 50% did (she put an out-of-order sign on a stall, hid in it and listened for the tape to turn on). When she was visible in the room, the count went up to 80%. So, even on a good day, one woman out of 5 isn’t washing her hands and then is touching the door knob, which pretty much negates the efforts of those of us who are washing. So, since learning that, I use the paper towel to open the door. That is my environmentally bad habit that I am going to have trouble changing.
Comment by Angela — April 14, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
We are not the big problem re the enviroment. Big corporations/animal slaughter houses/everyday products etc. are the main pollutants. Manufacturing companies are the biggest users of our water supply as they need water to rinse and wash what they produce and it all goes into the land. If we only use paper bags, where does all the wet and chicken/meat parts go without rotting in the house and garbage cans/bins. Mice and rats would have a field and disease would start. Sometimes better is not always better.
Comment by Anne — April 15, 2008 @ 4:05 pm