Over the past several years I’ve been getting mixed messages about whether one should use restroom hand dryers or not. On the one hand, (pun not intended) using the hand dryers is supposed to be good for the environment because it reduces the amount of paper towels being used, thereby reducing the amount of chemicals needed to produce the paper towels, which reduces the amount of toxins released into the environment.

But on the other hand, using commercial hand dryers uses electricity, and electricity is produced by burning coal, gas, oil, hydro, and other methods that also pollute the environment. I’ve never really heard any clear cut break down as to whether it is really better for the environment one way or the other. But I have heard some health experts suggest that using the air hand dryers in restrooms is not healthy because the bacteria on a dirty restroom floor gets sucked up into the dryer and then blown onto your hands. Largely because of that report that I’ve heard, I prefer to use paper towels, but I also like to use the paper towels to turn the door knob to exit the restroom.