A Melbourne school works with Appliance Services Australia to reduce costs, emissions, and waste across their campus

The Challenge: Reducing Waste and Meeting Sustainability Targets

A well-known Melbourne private school approached Appliance Services Australia as part of its broader push to meet 2030 carbon reduction goals. One area with untapped potential? Their outdated reliance on paper towels across school bathrooms.

Paper towels were not only generating ongoing labour and waste removal costs, but also contributing significantly to the school’s operational carbon footprint. What they needed was a lower-emission, lower-maintenance solution — and fast.

The Solution: Replacing Paper Towels with High-Efficiency Hand Dryers

Appliance Services Australia helped the school evaluate the true cost of hand dryers vs paper towels — not just in upfront cost, but also ongoing electricity, waste, and emissions. We also worked with the school to assess different usage zones — from general washrooms to gyms and music rooms — and recommended suitable dryers for each environment.

After comparing models, the school selected the Stiebel Eltron Ultronic, which offered:

• • 12-second drying times

• • Low energy use (0.72 kW)

• • Quiet operation (important near music rooms)

• • Modern design and robust warranties

The Numbers: Estimated Cost and CO₂ Savings Over Time

The school proceeded with a staged rollout:

• • 25 hand dryers initially installed

• • Followed by 15 more units across high-traffic and staff areas

Per Bathroom – Annual Operating Costs & Emissions (Estimates)

Metric	Paper Towels	Ultronic Hand Dryer
Annual Cost	$774.92	$125.63
CO₂ Emissions per Year	160.92 kg	19.99 kg

Figures based on typical usage (22.5 visitors/day, 3 uses each, 200 days/year). Electricity cost = $0.35/kWh. Emissions = 0.617 kg CO₂/kWh.

Campus-Wide Impact Over 7 Years (40 Units)

Metric	Paper Towels (Est.)	Hand Dryers (Est.)	Net Savings / Reduction
Total Operating Cost	$216,977	$35,175	~$181,800 saved
Total CO₂ Emissions	45,057 kg	5,598 kg	~39,460 kg CO₂ reduced

This transition is estimated to prevent over 1 million paper towels from entering landfill over the 7-year period.

Long-Term Benefits

• • Always-available drying for better hygiene and compliance

• • Reduced cleaning & restocking labour

• • Quiet options near sound-sensitive rooms

• • Simplified maintenance with consistent fleet of dryers

The Takeaway

While hand dryers carry a higher upfront cost, they offer:

• • Payback in 6–12 months in most cases

• • Massive reductions in emissions

• • No reliance on consumables like paper towels

• • Improved hygiene, presentation, and compliance

Ready to Ditch Paper Towels?

Switching to energy-efficient hand dryers doesn’t just reduce operational costs — it helps meet sustainability goals without compromising on hygiene or performance.

Appliance Services Australia are the experts in commercial hand dryer supply, installation, and maintenance. Whether you’re managing a school, hospital, office, or public facility, our team can help you:

• Select the right hand dryer model for each environment

• Compare running costs and carbon impact

• Plan full-fleet upgrades or staged rollouts

• Meet compliance, hygiene, and sustainability standards

Appliance Services Australia can help schools, offices, hospitals and other major facilities reduce their carbon footprint and save money today!

Contact our team today for more information on 1300 032 015 or at info@appservices.com.au