Brooklyn Bowl Goes Greener with Excel Dryer
Today, many operators are concerned with “going greener” when they do their remodels or new construction. And one of the most important places for energy conservation is often overlooked — the hand dryers in the restroom.
Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, N.Y., is more than just a bowling alley. It’s a music venue, nightclub, restaurant and private event space as well. What’s more, “we’re the first LEED-certified bowling alley in the world,” says Stephen Schwarz, general manager. He adds that extensive planning was done regarding “the construction and materials we use and how we operate on a daily basis” to ensure the most efficient use of energy.
Brooklyn Bowl is the first LEED-Certified bowling alley in the world.Brooklyn Bowl has a number of eco-friendly features, including the use of 100 percent wind-powered electricity, LED stage lights, fans that augment the HVAC system and floors made of recycled cork or truck tires. The bar only serves beer on tap. Even the bowling alley pinspotters are “energy smart,” using pins on strings and a drawbar system to use less electricity than traditional pinspotters. That emphasis on energy-efficient equipment carries through to every part of the operation — even the restrooms.
“Part of that ‘green initiative’ is that hand dryers were going to be a better choice for us in terms of energy,” Schwarz says. Paper towels were actually the first choice for the Brooklyn Bowl restrooms. But those were problematic, he says, citing “the amount of waste we’re going through, the clogged toilets and the mess on the floor.” He readily admits that he was not a fan of hand dryers — at least the trough-style dryers. He calls them “an odd experience. There’s water everywhere, and you’re trying not to touch the sides. It’s almost like a game of Operation.”
Brooklyn Bowl uses XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers in their high-end restrooms.His talent buyer turned him on to the high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR®Hand Dryers from Excel Dryer. “The dryers are great. We love them,” he says. Not only do the dryers help keep his bathrooms cleaner, but they also fit the sophisticated design aesthetic of Brooklyn Bowl. “We put a lot of thought into the way this place looks,” Schwarz says. “And the XLERATOR has a sophisticated look that really fits the feel of the place. You’ve got a great look in there, and the XLERATOR fits right in.” The bottom line: As Stephen Schwarz says, the “bathrooms are cleaner, guests are happier.”
The XLERATOR is the only hand dryer with a dry time of eight seconds, and it uses 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers. That represents a 95 percent cost savings when compared with paper towels. It’s the first hand dryer to be BuildingGreen Approved®and helps facilities qualify for LEED®v4 credits.
The XLERATOR is just one of a full lineof hand-drying products Excel Dryer offersto make restrooms cleaner and moreenergy efficient.