See the best environmentally friendly hand dryers for home and commercial use
With the recent pandemic and the world still reeling from the effects of the Covid virus, one of the preventative measures that have been pushed to the fore is the increase of hand hygiene.
Washing hands and ensuring they are dried adequately aids the process of infection control, preventing 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu. World Health Organisation guidelines recommend the use of hand dryers or towels to ensure hands are completely dry to prevent the spread and cross-contamination viruses.
So what are the most environmentally friendly hand driers on the market?
The best eco-friendly hand driers utilise low energy whilst providing a high-velocity air stream to dry and push the water off the skin. With the added benefit of touch-free automatic sensors to ensure only the necessary amount of air is used and built-in air filters to ensure a clean no-touch hygienic experience.
Read on to see my recommendations for four of the best environmentally friendly hand dryers for domestic or commercial use.
Contents:
- Bremmer Generic Turbo Hand Dryer
- BLUEDRY Jet Hand Dryer
- BLUEDRY ECO Dry Commercial Hand Dryer
- JETWELL 2Pack High Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer
1. Bremmer Generic Turbo Hand Dryer
Features:
- 3.84 Kg
- 32.5cms x 29.5cms x 17.1cms
- Suitable for Commercial or Domestic use
- Available in White, Brushed Satin or Polished Chrome
- 3 times faster than a conventional hand drier
- Metal Bracket Fitting
- Heats to between 20 – 45 degrees
- Eco-energy efficient with intelligent automatic operation
- Great Value – low price
Pros:
- Low Energy – Uses 40% less energy than competitors
- 98% Cheaper than paper Towels
- Produces 85% less CO2
- High Velocity – quick drying 7 – 10 seconds
- Hygienic with its Touch Free automatic operation
- Anti-Vandal Bracket
- UK Family Company with 24/7 Customer Service
- Budget Friendly
Con’s:
- Larger unit size
- A little slow to get to temperature approx. 5 – 6 seconds
- Comes supplied with English 3 pin plug – needs cutting off and connecting to 13 amp fused spur due to Part P requirements
This budget-friendly hand dryer is suitable for home or light commercial use and comes in a choice of three colours to suit most décors.
It is an environmentally friendly hand dryer with low energy consumption; which is marketed as using 40% less energy than similar competitors, yet it still maintains functionality being a high-speed drying unit.
This is a great dryer for drying hands, not only does it dry them quickly, but with no buttons to press, its touch-free automatic operation makes it hygienic as well.
It comes fitted with a UK plug so ready to plug and play out of the box, just needs to be fitted in place with its anti-vandal bracket making it suitable for public areas.
It is a little larger than other units reviewed, but the stainless-steel shell is robust and solid.
The major downside to this product is the time it takes to reach temperature. Although it only takes between 7 – 10 seconds to dry your hands, it can be 5 or 6 seconds before the airflow reaches temperature.
2. BLUEDRY Jet Hand Dryer
Features:
- 4 Kg
- 26.8 cms x 24cms x 17.6cms
- Suitable for Domestic and Light Commercial use
- Available in White, Brushed Steel or Chrome
- Metal Bracket Fitting included
- Long life eco motor operating at 25000 RPM using only 550 watts if heater turned off 1350 watts if heater turned on
- Eco-energy efficient with intelligent automatic operation
- Antibacterial filter
- 74dB Decibel rating
Pros:
- Small Compact size
- High Velocity 60 M/S approx. 10 – 12 seconds
- Heater element can be on or off to save energy and money
- Vandal Resistant durable casing
- Antibacterial Filter
- Adjustable settings
- Blue LED Light to guide user to airflow
Con’s
- 500 hours of use from motor
- Slow drying time
- Loud
The Bluedry jet hand dryer is a mid-range hand dryer, suitable for home or light commercial use. It weighs in slightly heavier than the Bremmer Generic unit but is packed into a smaller stainless steel compact unit. Stylish and encased in an anti-vandal unit it comes in a choice of three colours.
Again, this unit comes with intelligent automatic operation, allowing use without having to push a button or touch the unit. Instead, this hand dryer has a stylish blue led light guiding the user to the airflow.
This energy-saving hand dryer also has the option of being able to turn off the heater function, which greatly reduces the wattage from 1350 to 550, thus saving energy and money.
A bonus feature with the Bluedry hand driers is the antibacterial filters they are fitted with as standard. This allows for the air stream to be filtered of any dust and particles even trapping bacteria and viruses ensuring a hygienic hand drying experience.
One disadvantage of this unit is the relatively slower hand drying time of up to 12 seconds, but the ability to reduce the energy usage is a bonus as it balances this out.
3. BLUEDRY ECO Dry Commercial Hand Dryer
Features:
- 4.4 Kg
- 32 cms x 29 cms x 17 cms
- Suitable for Commercial use
- Available in White, Brushed Steel or Chrome
- Metal Bracket Fitting included
- 550 watts if heater turned off 1800 watts if heater turned on
- Eco-energy efficient with intelligent automatic operation
- Antibacterial filter
- 74dB Decibel rating
Pros:
- High Velocity – 60 M/S – approx. 8 – 10 Second drying time
- Heater element can be on or off to save energy and money
- Vandal Resistant durable casing
- Antibacterial Filter
- No – touch operation
- Blue LED Light to guide user to air flow
- Adjustable settings
Con’s
- Loud
The Bluedry Eco Dry Commercial Hand Dryer is the big brother to the Bluedry Jet. Running at a higher 1800 watts, this energy-efficient dryer is suitable for heavier commercial use.
It has all the same advantages as the Bluedry jet, including its intelligent automatic operation and blue led light-guiding its user to the airflow and is a slightly bigger machine for not a lot more money.
The motor is bigger and provides a quicker drying time of approximately 8 – 10 seconds, and it has the same eco-friendly function of being able to turn off the heater if the ambient room temperature is warm allowing energy and money-saving.
The commercial version has all the same advantages including the hygienic antibacterial filter as the smaller Jet hand dryer.
The only noticeable difference between the two units is the shape, with the mini-jet being smaller and more rectangular shaped rather than the squarer shape of the Eco Dry.
4. JETWELL 2Pack High Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer
Features:
- 4.5 kg
- 31 cms x 29 cms x 17 cms
- Suitable for Heavy duty commercial use
- Corrosion Proof
- Automatic heating – heat on when environment temperature is below 25 degrees
- Antibacterial Hepa filter – filter out 99.97% of dust from moist restrooms
- Modern and Sleek design
- UK Approved –
- 72dB
Pros:
- High Velocity 8 – 10 Second drying time
- Heater element can be on or off to save energy and money
- 650 watts if heater turned off 1450 watts if heater turned on
- 95% cost saving v’s paper towels
- Uses 80% less energy than average hand dryer
- Antibacterial Filter
- No – touch operation
- Adjustable settings
- Double pack
Con’s
- Produced in the US – shipping increases Carbon footprint
The last hand dryer is the Jewell High-Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer. This energy-efficient hand dryer comes in a double pack and is suitable for heavier commercial use.
With a modern and sleek casing that is robust and corrosion proof, it houses a large heavy-duty motor, providing a quick drying time of approximately 7 – 10 seconds.
It comes with the same eco-friendly function as the Bluedry, allowing the heater to be turned off if the ambient room temperature is warm. This is marketed at saving 80% less energy than comparative hand dryers of its size and a 95% cost saving versus paper towels.
The Jetwell also features a washable HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of dust and bacteria from the air stream providing a very hygienic hand drying experience.
One disadvantage to these very robust and energy saving hand dryers is their origin, as they have been designed and shipped from the US. The additional carbon footprint of the transportation of these hand dryers is a disadvantage to what is otherwise a very eco-friendly hand dryer.
Another is they come in a pack of two which means they are more expensive and possibly not suitable if you are looking for one hand dryer.
