INDUSTRY COMMENT
HOW GREEN IS YOUR WASHROOM?
Dr. Peter Barratt, Technical Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, walks us through the different ways in which building and facility managers can improve the ‘green’ credentials of their washrooms.
People today, in general, are more conscious than ever before of the cost of energy and water and the need to make a positive contribution towards sustainability and the environment. Responsibility, however, for the tangible steps that need to be taken to eliminate waste and save water and energy still lies with washroom managers. With this in mind, the contribution of an eco-friendly washroom should not be underestimated – especially when one considers the long term savings that the installation of green technology can bring.
We’re seeing a growing pressure for companies to find ways to save water. The flushing of urinals in male washrooms remains one of the principal causes of wasted water. Indeed, traditional urinal cleaning systems can waste water by automatically flushing the urinal periodically, even when it isn’t being used. For example, one famous sporting establishment with extremely old systems in place has around 40 urinals, which flush automatically every
three minutes. Each urinal system holds four and a half litres of water, resulting in a loss of 788,400 litres lost per year per urinal. Considering the cost of water is £3 per 1,000 litres, this unregulated flushing will be causing a huge dent in the company’s finances.
By introducing a carefully timed water management device, a business can reduce urinal flushing to between four and eight times a day. One example of an environmentally friendly system is the Eco-Clear Urinal Hygiene Solution, which helps dramatically reduce water use, without increasing smells or blockages. Its patented sleeve creates an odour lock and contains friendly bacteria that keep odour- forming bacteria at bay. It also has a built-in cleaning programme which uses a gentle biological cleaning fluid around the urinal bowl, removing the requirement for the daily use of harmful chemicals. By reducing washroom smells and scale build up, the washroom environment can be dramatically improved. Our alternative sensor activated water manager ensures urinals only flush when in use.
Energy bills can also quickly spiral out of control if not managed carefully but simple changes in the washroom can help keep costs in check. For example, using an energy- efficient hand dryer in the washroom (where appropriate) can be eco-friendly and deliver energy savings by reducing the number of paper towels
being used and disposed of. Earlier this year Initial Washroom
Hygiene announced that it has partnered with Savortex, an award- winning green technology firm, for the launch of the new EcoCurve hand dryer, which has an electrical power
28 | Tomorrow’s Cleaning Sustainability Supplement 2015
rating of just 550W. Designed with an in-built and patented energy recovery system, the dryer curves warmed air straight to the users’ palms once triggered by four intelligent sensors, and dries them in an average time of just 11 seconds. The energy used is so low that 59 pairs of hands can be dried for the equivalent cost of just one paper towel.
Picking the right technology and devices is not the only way in which you can have a ‘green’ washroom. Ensuring you are using bio-friendly chemicals and solutions is also a good way of making sure your ‘eco’ label stands true. At Initial Washroom Hygiene, we offer a full range of hand washes for everyday use, that carry the EU eco-label, which means they are made out of ingredients which have been sustainably sourced and are not damaging to the environment. The fluid used in Eco-Clear contains enzymes rather than harsh chemicals, resulting in less damage to the bowls and urinals.
While there is definitely more of an understanding of the need for eco- friendly solutions, we must ensure that we don’t remain complacent because we feel like we have the luxury to do so. Water and energy are precious resources and, wherever you are in the world, need to be treated respectfully. In the washroom, this means reducing waste and finding ways to manage usage in an efficient and cost effective manner. Invest wisely and this can be coupled with financial savings as well: ignore the myth that eco-friendly techniques are the most expensive option; the reality is they could be saving businesses thousands of pounds every single year.
www.initial.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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