It’s hand dryers vs. paper towels for the title of “Most Eco-Friendly Way to Dry Your Hands In a Public Restroom.” We know that both leave a carbon footprint - paper towels are made from paper, which is made from trees, which have to be chopped down to make paper. Electric hand dryers run on electricity, which takes its own toll on the environment. So which is the greener option? Find out after the JUMP —>

According to The Green Lantern on Slate.com, electric hand dryers are the better option. Not only do they prevent deforestation, but they also use less energy when you factor in the production of both:

A fair amount of energy goes into manufacturing metal goods with mechanical parts. But the fact that dyers last so long—typically between seven and 10 years—means that production accounts for a negligible part of the hardware’s total energy consumption.

The article goes on to elaborate on the life-cycle of the paper towel. The pulping process is very energy-intensive, and even if they are made from recycled materials, they generally end up in the landfill.

One must also consider the cost of trucking the towels from manufacturer to client, a data point that will vary widely according to the restroom’s distance from the paper mill. Yes, dryers must be transported in this manner, too, but far less frequently, given how long each one lasts.

If all else fails, the back of your jeans works just as well! takepart and check out these 10 tips for reducing your overall paper consumption.

Related:

The Politics of Paper: The Industry of Fox Valley

Things To Know About Paper Consumption

NY Times: Pushing Paper Out the Door