Reading University - Excel Dryer Australia

University of Reading gets green light to save energy

The Problem

With over 17,000 students from 141 countries and nearly 4,000 members on staff, the university has committed to mitigating its own environmental impact and reducing its carbon footprint by 35 percent by 2016 and 45 percent by 2020.

The Solution

In order to achieve their goal, the University of Reading has plans to reduce energy and water consumption around campus, increase recycling and reduce waste going to landfills. The Sustainability Team was implemented to raise energy awareness among students and faculty and the Clean and Green Team was created to care for the general appearance of the campus.

Results

The University of Reading has also invested significantly in the existing campus infrastructure to ensure its facilities are efficient and environmentally ready for the future. These changes include energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling and insulation; building management and energy-efficient equipment ranging from IT servers to hand dryers.

Research Provides A Helping Hand

Prior to installing new XLERATOReco Hand Dryers throughout the campus, Dan Fernbank, Energy Manager at the University of Reading, reviewed independently verified energy performance data of various high-speed hand dryers. Fernbank has been Energy Manager at the University of Reading since 2011, where he has led their carbon reduction programs, achieving a 23 percent cut in their entire estates’ carbon emissions in just four years. This has saved $11.1 million (£7.4 million) cumulatively for the university.

In 2014, Fernbank gained a first class honors Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies (Environmental Studies BSc), the same year the university won the edie.net Sustainability Leaders Award for energy efficiency. Previously, Fernbank spent four and a half years working for the Carbon Trust, working in a variety of roles and establishing a highly successful national carbon reduction program for schools.

Using the Salix Finance hand dryer calculation tool and the Carbon Trust’s Energy Technology List, Fernbank determined that the XLERATOReco Hand Dryer was the best option for the university.

“We conduct research about climate science and sustainable construction, so we need to lead by example. Manufacturers like Excel Dryer – who continue to innovate sustainable products like the high speed, energy efficient XLERATOReco Hand Dryer – allow us to do that,” said Fernbank.

Reading previously used conventional hand dryers with 30 – 45 second dry times, which consumed approximately 2,400 watts when in operation, according to the Salix calculator. For 72 conventional hand dryers, the total energy used was 81,664 kWh for an estimated lifecycle of 64,000 hand dries.

Fernbank compared the conventional calculations to the UK blade-style hand dryer and the XLERATOReco Hand Dryer manufactured by Excel Dryer. The UK blade style hand dryer used 1,600 watts when in operation with a total of 21,098 kWh of energy, according to the Salix calculations.