XLERATOR® Hand Dryers Help Brooklyn Bowl Become the First LEED®-Certified Bowling Alley In The World!

By Rebecca Collins

Brooklyn Bowl, a 16-lane bowling alley, music venue and restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, is equally known for its aesthetic as its entertainment. Described as “one of the most amazing places on Earth” by Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Bowl has played host to many top acts including Guns N’ Roses and Elvis Costello, and can now count being the first LEED® certified bowling alley worldwide among its list of accomplishments.

Significant planning and construction were necessary to convert the former Hecla Iron Works building, a 100-year-old factory, into the current entertainment space it’s known as today. Likewise, some interesting energy-saving initiatives had to be implemented in order for the facility to achieve LEED® certification, including the use of XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers, produced by USGBC MA sponsoring partner Excel Dryer. Other energy-saving measures included string-mounted pin spotters, reclaimed cork and recycled truck tire floors, and 100 percent wind-powered electricity.

“Part of the green initiative was that hand dryers were going to be a better choice for us, in terms of energy consumption and waste,” said Stephen Schwarz, general manager at Brooklyn Bowl. “XLERATOR Hand Dryers were part of the plan from the very beginning.” The XLERATOR and Excel Dryer line of high-efficiency dryers are the only in the industry to be tested to guidelines from the Global Hand Dryer Product Category Rules (PCR) published by UL Environment. In addition, XLERATOR uses 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers and represent a 95 percent cost savings when compared to paper towels, eliminating their labor, maintenance and waste. An independent Life Cycle Assessment (peer reviewed to ISO 14040 standards) of XLERATOR confirmed it reduces the carbon footprint of hand drying by 50-75 percent compared to both traditional hand dryers and even 100-percent recycled paper towels.

In addition to fitting into the green initiative, the XLERATOR ultimately met the upscale and trendy design of the facility. For a place that is curated to the smallest detail, it was important for the XLERATOR to fit in with the overall aesthetic of Brooklyn Bowl. “It’s an iconic Brooklyn place with an iconic look,” said Schwarz. “We put a lot of thought and effort into the way this place looks, including the bathrooms. And I think the XLERATOR has a sophisticated look that really fits the feel of the place and carries it through. So you’re not in this beautiful place and walk into something that looks like a gas station bathroom. You’ve got a great look in there. And the XLERATOR fits right in.”

In a facility that hosts 2,000-3,000 visitors a day, performance, reliability and sustainability were all of importance and factors for consideration. “The dryers are great,” said Schwarz. “With all the traffic through our bathrooms, we’ve had great success with them. It keeps trash off the floor, keeps clogs out of the toilets. Bathrooms are cleaner, guests are happier.”

For more information about Excel Dryer or its expanded and enhanced product line, visit exceldryer.com/products.php.