Most commercial restrooms are far from sustainable: with high energy usage and waste output, even a small bathroom can create a big environmental impact, not to mention high costs and poor customer experience.
Energy and materials factor into every part of a trip to the bathroom, not least of all when guests wash and dry their hands. According to Excel Dryer, one ton of new paper towels requires 17 trees, pollutes 7,000 gallons of water and produces 40 cubic feet of landfill waste.
The problem doesn’t stop there: in landfills, paper towel waste decomposes into methane, a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. It is a deadly cycle with no winners.
At D|13 Group, we truly believe that good design solves everything, and sustainability is no exception: our commercial restroom sink systems are designed from the ground up for vastly improved energy efficiency, waste output and long-term costs.
Better for the Planet
We’ve already explained why the D|13 Integrated Sink System (ISS) – combining a touchless soap dispenser, faucet, and XLERATORsync® hand dryer into one seamless countertop – is better for designers, contractors, property managers and guests.
Here are just a few reasons that it’s better for the planet as well.
1. Totally Eliminate Paper Towel Waste
With touchless hand drying fixtures, guests can wash and dry their hands from a single countertop without ever touching a paper towel. Not only does this eliminate paper waste sent to landfills: it eliminates packaging materials, trash bags, cleaning supplies, and the methane byproducts of landfill usage.
2. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Every commercial restroom contributes to carbon emissions through its supply chain and energy demands. But according to a peer reviewed study conducted by Quantis International LCA, D|13’s touchless hand drying fixtures can reduce that carbon footprint by up to 75% with 100% recycled paper towels as the baseline. They achieve better results than conventional hand dryers as well.
3. Improve Energy Efficiency
Whether you choose standard hand dryers or paper towel dispensers, there’s no hand drying solution which doesn’t use energy somewhere along the way. Our touchless hand drying fixtures beat all of them in terms of energy efficiency, with an 80% reduction in energy per use compared to recycled paper towels, and a 98% reduction in energy costs!
4. Environmentally Friendly Materials
Our sink systems are made-to-order (MTO), with customization options limited only by requirements defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These options include recycled materials, and materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Certified materials can contribute to sustainable sourcing and environmental conservation, not to mention reduced environmental impact at the end of product life.
5. Quality Construction, Durable Installation
Our fixtures are designed for easy maintainability and long-term use in a commercial environment. This ensures longer product life and fewer repairs over time, meaning less material and landfill waste. Our restrooms are meant to last: by providing support from the design phase to installation and post-installation support, we ensure customer satisfaction with every project, reducing the need for long-term renovations or modifications.
Leadership in Environmental Achievement
Our commitment to eco-friendly design makes a difference, not just for our clients, but for the communities they serve, and for the entire commercial restroom industry.
Recently, the D|13 Integrated Sink System received a SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership) Award, which celebrates leadership and substantial contributions to environmental sustainability.
We are proud to push the boundary for what consumers can expect from commercial restrooms, and what businesses can achieve, not only in terms of customer experience, but also in terms of environmental outcomes.
At the same time, we are proud to serve our clients and their communities by helping them to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits as well as other green building certifications.
Aligning With Customer Values
At D|13, we know that excellence in restroom design is not only key to good customer experience: it also communicates an organization’s values, its mission and its overall brand identity.
According to Nielsen, 78% of American consumers say that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them. Similar findings prove that today’s consumers expect environmentally responsible decisions from the businesses they patronize and are willing to pay more for it.
By investing in sustainable restrooms, businesses align themselves with their customer’s values and stand out from the competition, taking a bold stance in favor of conservation and environmental stewardship. As a bonus, they save on maintenance and energy costs over the long term: it’s a win-win situation.
It’s Just Better
D|13’s revolutionary D|VERSE Integrated Sink System and associated D|COR Streamlined Sink System represent the next step forward in commercial restroom design. In every way that matters, it’s just better: better for your customers, your business, and for our shared world.
Our passionate team of technical and design experts are ready to assist you at any stage of your project, from design through installation and post-installation support, no matter the size or type of your venue. Let us introduce you to the D|13 difference and explain how we can make your restrooms more sustainable: contact us today.