Ask Mr. Green: Paper Towels or Hand Dryers?

Hey Mr. Green,

Public restrooms often offer two choices: paper towels or blow-drying machines. Which is better for the environment? 

—Brenda in Washington, D.C.

With so many kinds of dryers on the market — RestroomDirect purveys 80-plus models from nine manufacturers — it’s even more complicated than the old paper-or-plastic query (answer: neither, but reusable plastic if you must).

MIT’s recent cradle-to-grave comparison of drying methods gives paper towels a slightly better grade than dryers, except for the super-­efficient Xlerator and Dyson Airblade, which have the lowest impact of all methods by far. (You put your hands in the Dyson, while the Xlerator blasts air out of a nozzle.)

Paper towels are less harmful than electric dryers overall, especially in terms of preventing CO₂ emissions. Paper also uses less water than dryers, because so much H₂O is needed to generate electricity for their heating elements.

Recycled paper beats virgin paper, of course — but another option, the old-fashioned cloth roll, handily beats most paper and dryers.

But it may be best to simply wash your hands of the whole matter — many people wipe their paws on pants and skirts after getting impatient with dryers anyhow. And here's an idea: Why not carry your own little towel in your pocket or purse instead of firing up dryers or yanking out paper?

And while every bit helps, do keep the debate in perspective: Drive your 25-mile-per-­gallon car to and from a restaurant just a mile away, and you’ll burn through at least 100 times more energy than you will in one session with a dryer or a paper towel in its john. —Bob Schildgen

Got an eco-question? Ask Mr. Green!

Are Grocery Delivery Services Green?

It isn’t easy being green. Sometimes, adopting eco-friendly habits — whether avoiding plastic bags or researching sustainable food options — only seems to add more stress to our already hectic lives.

But one green habit might be as easy as skipping next Sunday’s grocery trip. A study published in the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum reveals that grocery delivery is easier not only on you, but on the planet, too. Using Seattle as a model, engineers at the University of Washington found that delivery service trucks generated 20 to 75 percent less carbon dioxide than personal vehicles driven to and from the grocery store. 

While zero emissions are ideal, grocery delivery offers a conveniently green option for those who don't live walking or biking distance from a store.

It turns out that delivery services also help grocery companies green their wallets. Goodchild and study lead author Ericka Wygonik, a Ph.D. candidate in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, observed that delivery service providers produced up to 90 percent less carbon dioxide if they used routes that delivered to groups of residences, rather than individual households at separate delivery times. 

Spring Recipe: Ginger Lemonade

To wrap up our week of delicious spring recipes, we bring you a classic drink with a refreshing twist. Check it out!

Ginger Lemonade

There are few things more refreshing than a tall glass of lemonade. But a secret ingredient — ginger — takes this classic drink to a whole new level. Spice up your lemonade with this in-season root and watch as your guests beg for more.

Ingredients:

8 cups water

4 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cups sugar

3/4 cup honey (you can also use agave nectar)

2 lemons, thinly sliced

1/2 cup grated ginger

1 cup crushed ice

 

Instructions:

Spring Recipe: Balsamic Strawberries & Ice Cream

Now that we've shared recipes for the star of the barbecue — the Carrot-Sesame Burger — and its two equally delicious sides — Spicy Green Bean Fries and a Zesty Kale Salad — we have to find something to cure that post-meal sweet tooth. Check out the perfect remedy below!

Balsamic Strawberries with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

There is nothing like a sweet, ripe strawberry! Harvest this seasonal fruit from your garden or pick some up at your local farmers' market. Then grab a bottle of balsamic vinegar and a quart of your favorite vanilla bean ice cream to make a light, refreshing dessert.

Ingredients:

1 lb strawberries, thinly sliced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp sugar

1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

1/3 cup 2% milk

1/4 stick of butter

1 quart of vanilla bean ice cream

1/4 cup almond shavings

 

Spring Recipe: Zesty Kale Salad

Stay tuned as we continue to share tips on how to enjoy a healthy, green spring cookout. Yesterday we highlighted a mouth-watering carrot burger recipe. Check out what is on the menu for today!

Zesty Kale Salad 

Although kale has been on the scene for thousands of years, the powerhouse vegetable has had quite a resurgence in the past 10 years as knowledge of its health benefits have become more widespread. Since then, people have found all kinds of unique ways to prepare this nutritious veggie. From kale chips to kale juice, people just can't get enough of it, and neither can we. Check out Kathy Sampson's zesty and colorful kale salad recipe below.

Ingredients:

Spring Recipe: Carrot-Sesame Burger

 

This week, the Green Life is dishing out eco-recipes that turn a typical meat-heavy barbecue into a light, refreshing culinary experience. Yesterday we shared a delicious recipe for Spicy Green Bean Fries. Check out today's planet-friendly treat below.

 

Carrot-Sesame Burger

What's a barbecue without a burger? Instead of going the traditional route with ground beef, why not add some color to that hearty sandwich? Not only will you be saving fat and calories, but since carrots are always in season, you can also head out and support local agriculture. Trust us, you won't be sacrificing taste. Try if for yourself by following this delicious recipe from Dr. Ann Kulze of Dr. Ann Wellness.

 

Spring Recipe: Spicy Green Bean Fries

It's almost time to dust off the grill and de-web that patio furniture. With warm weather on its way, we're itching for barbecue season. Whether you are planning a Sunday cookout, a Cinco de Mayo pool party, or gearing up for a Memorial Day gathering, we've put together an awesome menu of delicious, green recipes. Today we will start with a healthy and green alternative to a barbecue favorite: french fries.

Spicy Green Bean Fries

Why limit yourself to potatoes when you can turn just about anything into a "fry," even green beans. This lean, green vegetable is not only low in cholesterol and fat but aalso high in dietary fiber, protein, and iron. Best of all, green bean season is starting, so they can be found at your local farmers' market (keep in mind that they come in yellow and purple if you'd like a variety of colors). Kristen McCaffrey from Slender Kitchen created this tasty way to turn a power vegetable into a zesty barbecue appetizer!

Ingredients:

Ask Mr. Green: Who's Using Our Water?

Hey Mr. Green,

Which uses more water and how much, industry or the general public?

—Frank, in Dubuque, Iowa

Industry, primarily for electric power plants and irrigation, draws a lot more water than the general public. Of the total of 410 billion gallons per day drawn in the United States, around 29.5 billion were used directly by households, or about 7 percent of the total, according to the latest data from the U.S. Geological Service. Electric power plants required around 200 billion gallons per day for steam and cooling, while irrigation soaked up 128 billion gallons.

However, if we add the indirect residential water consumption that results from residences using about 38 percent of U.S. total electric use of 3.750 trillion kilowatt hours per year, then the total residential use shoots up to around 105.5 billion gallons per day, or roughly 25 percent of the total. This may be one of the best-kept secrets of our times, but a rather telling example of truth of that famous statement by the Sierra Club’s illustrious founder John Muir: “All things are hitched.” Meaning that if we had the good sense to cut our electrical consumption, our water use would diminish correspondingly.  

Green Tax Breaks for 2013

The IRS filing deadline may be looming, but there's still enough time to cash in on green tax breaks. Ask your accountant for help, or consult the Database of State Initiatives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), which provides comprehensive information on environmentally sustainable local, state, federal, and utility-based incentives and policies. Here we highlight a handful of federal initiatives that could help you green your wallet this tax season.

Renewable remodeling: Homeowners who have installed renewable energy heating and cooling systems, including geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and/or solar energy systems, can claim 30 percent of the cost of a new renewable energy system, with no maximum limit. An added bonus: the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit, which runs through 2016, applies to any home you own, not just your primary residence.

Cats Facts: Green Jobs Mean Big Bucks

Cats, again! This week has been a good run for our favorite companion animals and their accompanying green tidings. (Feel free to debate "favorite" in the comments.) 

From a fluff ball and EVs to a lean kitty and big savings, to a tabby who doesn't give a shale about oil, we've carried the April Fools' fun through to the weekend.

A final word from our feline overlords:

 

Just the facts:

What could shifting funds to greener pastures look like? Instead of building and expanding roads, green jobs include building and expanding mass transit, and increasing existing buildings' energy efficiency.