Facility managers planning new or renovated restrooms have many more choices than in years past. The recent dual emphasis on sustainable and hands free technology has guided restroom-related product development and marketing in recent years.

Restrooms are, by nature, a great place for germs to spread, even if thoroughly cleaned daily. Public bathrooms attract large numbers of users with varying standards of personal hygiene, and everyone has to touch the same fixtures.

Fortunately, in recent years, hands-free technology has effectively prevented many public restroom users from having to touch many bathroom surfaces at all.

What’s more, there’s no question about it: hands-free is not only the cleaner choice for restrooms, it’s the cheaper choice in the long run. Although the initial investment in quality motion detector restroom appliances may be higher, facility managers stand to save a great deal of money on janitorial and maintenance labor.

Hands-free appliances generally work via a motion sensor, and, when constructed properly, require infrequent maintenance.

Facility managers should test all new appliances and evaluate their reputation in the industry before purchasing.

Questions to ask distributors:

• Does the sensor indicate detection problems as they occur? How?

• How much of a time lapse occurs between functions?

• Is there an auto shut-off feature built in to prevent waste?

• Is there a warranty? How do I handle servicing surfaces at all.

What’s more, there’s no question about it: hands-free is not only the cleaner choice for restrooms, it’s the cheaper choice in the long run. Although the initial investment in quality motion detector restroom appliances may be higher, facility managers stand to save a great deal of money on janitorial and maintenance labor.

Hands-free appliances generally work via a motion sensor, and, when constructed properly, require infrequent maintenance.

Facility managers should test all new appliances and evaluate their reputation in the industry before purchasing. Questions to ask distributors:

• Does the sensor indicate detection problems as they occur? How?

• How much of a time lapse occurs between functions?

• Is there an auto shut-off feature built in to prevent waste?

• Is there a warranty? How do I handle servicing?

Paper is surprisingly expensive, and the cost goes well beyond paper’s purchase price. Gary Homesley, assistant director of Facilities and Maintenance at the California State Northridge Student Union, reports that the university spent $21,000 annually on paper towels, installation labor, and trash hauling fees. In addition to the expense of paper towels, the environmental impact of their manufacture is significant: to make one ton of recycled paper requires 7000 gallons of water, 360 gallons of oil, 158 million BTUs of energy, and releases 86 pounds of pollutants into the atmosphere.

Switching to energy-efficient, fast-working hand dryers cuts costs significantly. Because hand dryers leave no waste behind, they are also more hygienic (see sidebar) than paper towels that, especially when strewn wet around the restroom, can create unsanitary conditions. When evaluating a hand dryer, the best consideration is how rapidly and effectively it dries hands.

“I’d never liked hand dryers in the past,” Homesley admits. “They never seemed to work well enough; your hands were never actually dry after using them.” Although hand dryers carry a reputation for slowness, some newer models are highly efficient and able to dry hands as fast as paper towels.  With the right dryers in place, facility managers can eliminate paper towel dispensers altogether, as CalState did. “The Union bathrooms generated about six tons of paper towel waste every year,” says Homesley.

“It’s remarkable to be able to cut that out.”

Although most people think first of paper conservation when they consider “greening” their facilities, water conservation is also important, and there are several options available to avoid flushing a great deal of money down the drain.

“In California, we have to pay a sewer tax on all domestic water that we use,” says Homesley. “So, naturally, the less water we bring into a building and then waste in the sewer system, the fewer charges we incur.”

Low-flow. Commonplace in many regions (and in some cases required by law), low-flow toilets are an obvious choice to reduce water wastage. However, facility managers should examine models closely to ensure that they will function properly, particularly in a high-use public restroom.

Water-free urinals. These urinals work by draining fluid and trapping odors beneath a special sealant, which is poured into a small cartridge below the drain. The cartridge traps and filters out sediment, allowing an unobstructed flow of liquid down the drain while minimizing water wasted. Water-free urinals have yet to become commonplace, but their savings potential is impressive. Once installed them in the CalState student union, Homesley reports that the urinals alone accounted for a 35 percent reduction (around a million gallons per year) in domestic water intake, saving the university between $10,000 and 15,000 a year.

Timers/auto shut-off features. Hands-free is only the first step. Facility staff must make sure all sinks and other water-dispensing appliances will turn off when a user is no longer physically detected, and/or after a set period of time has elapsed. Timers can help prevent water wastage in the event that the hand detector malfunctions.

Restrooms have changed significantly to meet buyer demands, so today’s facility managers have many options that were not available just 10 or 20 years ago. Although some of the new products on the market may seem overly “high-tech” or excessive, the energy and cost savings offer very compelling reasons to modernize. Speak with distributors and peers in the industry to see what might work best for a given project. ❑