FW3

The ProjectIn aiming to create a facility capable of accommodating 55 million passengers a year, the Manchester Airport project became one of the UK’s largest airport development projects to date.An integral consideration for Manchester Airport Group (MAG) in their decision-making process was ensuring that any solution aligned with their overarching sustainability goals. These goals aim to consistently reduce their carbon footprint and uphold their carbon-neutral status, which they have maintained since 2016.Not only this, but MAG also had to consider a wider variety of objectives, including the long term operational performance of the whole building, lifetime costs and customer approval ratings, amongst many other factors.Finding a solution for over 100 washrooms, that aligned with these numerous, sometimes conflicting objectives, was imperative. Fortunately, the Diamond Dryer proved to be just the solution MAG was looking for.The SolutionSustainability: The latest generation of hand dryer technology, utilised by Diamond Dryers, uses a powerful brushless motor, ensuring that electricity consumption is minimised. Thanks to a low 300W rating, this, in turn, saves 90% of energy compared to conventional hot air dyers.For MAG, using hand dryers instead of paper towels immediately reduced waste generation too, and the need for waste collection/removal. This allowed for an immediate carbon reduction, delivering environmental and cost-saving benefits alongside.Reliability & Maintenance:The brushless motor technology that these Diamond Dryers use is super-reliable and the units are backed with a seven year warranty to offer long-term peace of mind.To minimise downtime, these dryers have just three replaceable parts, which on-site engineers hold in stock. This means that the units can be installed by them easily in minutes.Speed:In busy public buildings with significant peaks in traffic, washrooms must be able to manage sudden influxes of people to prevent congestion. Since airports face this challenge, a rapid drying solution makes a major difference. The Diamond Dryers specified by MAG meet this challenge, taking just 10 seconds to complete the hand drying cycle.Aesthetics:The aesthetic appeal of each washroom is an important issue. Unattractive or poorly coordinated hand dryers can detract from the overall ambiance. This aspect was particularly crucial for MAG.The sleek, contemporary design of the new Terminal 2 applies to every aspect of the building. Opting for the compact Diamond Dryer units, in colours and finishes to match the décor, provides a seamless sense of unity and cleanliness. This integration contributes positively to the overall impression of the airport complex.The ResultsIn considering all these factors as part of its washrooms strategy, MAG has been able to arrive at a specification that will deliver the best solution long-term. The process they have adopted here shows the potential for any other public building operator to benefit from advances in hand dryer technology and work towards a more sustainable future.*Please note that images on this case study are for illustrative purposes only, to demonstrate the Diamond Dryer in action in the washroom. These are not photographs of the Manchester airport washroom facilities.

The ProjectIn 2012, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) aimed to improve their sustainability credentials by upgrading washroom facilities across its offices. The goal was to find the most energy efficient, sustainable and user-friendly replacement hand dryers for its numerous washrooms throughout its HQ buildings 3 Whitehall Place and 55 Whitehall.Firstly, DECC wanted to eliminate paper towels, thereby cutting waste disposal costs, as well as minimising the labour hours required for waste collection/disposal. Additionally, they wanted to reduce energy consumption of hand dryers by installing the lowest power rated solutions available, and reduce standby power consumption.Secondly, DECC specified that energy efficiency must be assessed in terms of energy per dry rather than solely kilowatts (kW), recognising that some hand dryers may take longer to complete the drying process than others. Lastly, DECC aimed to enhance the washroom environment for its staff by minimizing noise levels.The SolutionDECC opted to install 54 Biodrier Biolite low energy hand dryers, sourced by their facilities management company, in order to meet these sustainability goals.These compact, yet powerful hand dryers serve an energy-efficient hand drying solution, perfect for companies striving to adopt more eco-friendly practices in the washroom.The ResultsWaste Reduction:In the Greening Government Commitments report published in December 2013, DECC reported good progress towards meeting its waste reduction commitments. It states that DECC has seen a 14% reduction in waste in 2012/13, with part of this improvement attributed to the installation of the hand dryers and phasing out of paper towels.Energy Savings:DECC reports that the Biodrier Biolite hand dryers use significantly less energy, both in use and during standby periods. This is due to the evolution of hand dryer technology, allowing for an adjustable heater element. For organisations like DECC, this provides the opportunity to use the lower energy setting during summer months, as warmer air is not required.Minimising energy consumption when not in use is also key to delivering these energy savings. Solutions like the Biolite have a very low standby usage of just 0.1kW.Lastly, the Biolite hand drying cycle lasts just 10-12 seconds with these, further minimising energy use.Enhanced Washroom Experience:Switching from paper towels to hand dryers delivered an instant visual transformation in the tidiness of the washroom, as well as the bins taking longer to fill.Noise is minimised too with levels limited to just 70 dBa, improving the washroom experience further.Swift Payback Period:The payback period for these Biolite dryers was calculated to be only 17.2 months (based on DECC’s five-day working week).

The ProjectChaddesden Park Primary School in Derby, re-opened in June following a 2-year building programme and refurbishment, for their 1960s buildings. The new two-storey building was constructed to the latest building standards, accommodating 402 pupils from the ages of 3-11.The teaching staff and school management team were, however, acutely aware of the operational hurdles posed by the outdated 1960s buildings. Consequently, they were motivated to ensure that the products selected for the new build met criteria for reliability, practicality, safety, and energy efficiency. This extended to the washrooms, which were outdated in numerous ways.Joyce Gallagher, Chaddesden Park Primary School Business Manager explains: "The washrooms in our previous school buildings utilised paper towels for the children to dry their hands. This created daily problems for us."Therefore, the use of paper towels in the school was problematic and needed addressing urgently.SolutionThe school opted to install the latest generation of low energy hand dryers to avoid the issues it had experienced with paper towels.These hand dryers the school selected included the Biodrier Biobot - a child-friendly hand dryer, designed specifically for small children - and the Biodrier Eco - an extremely energy efficient hand dryer.Joyce comments on the thought process behind selecting this dryers: "The Biobot and Ecodriers were primarily chosen because of the potential for savings on paper towels, plumber call-outs and cleaner routines, but they also gave us the opportunity to help educate children about the importance of environmental savings given the reduction in wastage and application of low energy technology. This was particularly so with the Biobots which feature a colourful educational back-board which helps encourage the children to use the wash their hands to use the dryers."The ResultsThe upgrade from paper towels to energy-efficient hand dryers transformed the school's washrooms completely.Joyce continues: "The new school may only be a few months into its life but the results so far are fantastic. Compared to our old school buildings, the washrooms are tidier, safer, more attractive to visit and cost us far less to operate and maintain. The energy savings will become apparent as they are monitored over time, but we expect the dryers to make an important contribution to helping us minimise our carbon footprint longer term and reduce our energy consumption.”

The ProjectLidl spans across 960+ stores in the UK, making it one of the largest, and most popular, supermarket chains in the UK.Searching for an hand dryer to roll out across their stores, which met their specification, was a big task. Main features that were key in their decision included cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, fast dry times, and hygiene.The SolutionLidl worked closely with us here at FW3, to find a solution that met their specification exactly, deciding on the Biodrier Biolite (HD-BL09). Don't just take it from us though, take it from Lidl's construction consultant, Henry Foxall:‘Opting for the Biodrier Biolite hand dryer in our stores was a no-brainer for us – it not only met our specification, but exceeded it. The hand dryer’s energy efficiency, powerful nature, and cost-effectiveness, in comparison to competitors, were the primary features that sold us on the BL09.’ - Henry Foxall (Lidl Construction Consultant)Cost Effectiveness:This was a huge factor for Lidl when choosing a hand dryer. The BL09 offered a hand drying solution which was extremely cost effective, in comparison to competitors and alternatives. The low running costs, thanks to it's ultra-energy efficiency, coupled with the fast dry times of just 10 seconds, ensured Lidl saved money both short, and long-term.Energy Efficiency:Using just 650-900W energy, the Biolite hand dryer offered an environmentally friendly hand drying solution, usingup to 90% less energy than conventional hot air hand dryers. This was a key point for Lidl when selecting a hand dryer, as conventional hot air alternatives can typically use around 2500W.Fast Drying:The BL09 is compact, yet powerful. Drying hands in under 10 seconds, it ensures high foot traffic is effectively managed, and energy usage is decreased. Having a hand drying solution in place, which can withstand high foot traffic is key for a busy supermarket.The ResultsSo far, the Biodrier Biolite has been rolled out across every Lidl store in the UK, with a scope to continue rolling out these hand dryers across any future stores.