Government relations is essential to advancing facility management profession

East Longmeadow, MA –July 23, 2014 – Excel Dryer, Inc., manufacturer of the original, patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR® and new XLERATOReco® Hand Dryers, today announced the importance of reaching out to local, state and federal elected officials about the significance of the built environment and the impact facility management has on issues like energy efficiency and sustainability. To that end, Excel Dryer will take part in the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) Advocacy Day and Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 24.

“Engaging in the legislative process is one of the most effective ways that facility managers can influence federal and municipal policies impacting the profession,” said Excel Dryer Vice President of Marketing, William Gagnon. “Legislators need information on Capitol Hill to encourage public policy that supports energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives that not only benefit facility management professionals but the public at large.”

Held July 23-24 in Washington, D.C., IFMA’s Advocacy Day and Public Policy Forum educates IFMA members on the legislative process and encourages their participation as spokespersons for the facility management profession. It is an opportunity for the IFMA community to influence federal and municipal policies impacting the profession. During the Advocacy Day and Public Policy Forum, facility managers will:

  • Get a first-hand look at how Congress creates and implements the laws that affect business
  • Learn about pending legislation that may directly impact facility management
  • Participate in the legislative process in practice
  • Get policy updates from the source – including IFMA’s legislative team, administration officials and members of Congress
  • Meet with representatives’ offices in the U.S. House and Senate and introduce them to facility managers and help influence their decisions

“As facilities are now looking for green and cost-saving initiatives, legislators need only look around Washington, D.C. to see energy efficiency and sustainability in action,” said Gagnon. Both Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals baseball team and the Washington Redskins football team’s home at FedExField are equipped with high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR® hand dryers. In addition, several D.C.-based government headquarters including the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) use XLERATOR® hand dryers and have realized substantial energy and sustainability benefits.

The USGBC has been the beacon for green building and design and lifeblood behind the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building certification program. Like the green movement itself, the USGBC has experienced rapid and sustained growth. The present demand for LEED® certification for building projects is so high that the USGBC has expanded significantly in recent years to accommodate its growth. After just two years at its Dupont Circle headquarters in Washington, D.C., the USGBC outgrew its office space and renovated a circa-1970s office building to become the first project to achieve LEED® Platinum under the newest version of its green building rating system. At the time of the renovation, Excel Dryer had been a corporate member of the USGBC for nearly seven years and the XLERATOR hand dryer was a featured green product at USGBC headquarters.

Likewise, the USDA, in an effort to eliminate 12 tons of paper towel waste annually, installed two dozen XLERATOR® hand dryers throughout the USDA complex in Washington, D.C. The installation not only significantly reduced paper tower waste each year, but also lowered the cost of purchasing paper towels, reduced paper towel maintenance and disposal costs, and improved bathroom hygiene with far fewer wet paper towels trapping germs and overflowing onto the bathroom floor.

XLERATOR is the original, patented high-speed energy efficient hand dryer that dries hands completely in 10 seconds*, three times faster than conventional dryers, while using 80 percent less energy. XLERATOR hand dryers represent a 95 percent cost savings versus paper towels and eliminates their maintenance and waste while creating a more hygienic restroom environment. In addition, the XLERATOR hand dryer product family is GreenSpec® listed and helps qualify for several LEED® v4 Credits and Green Globes to achieve corporate or government sustainability goals.

The XLERATOReco hand dryer uses new “no heat” technology to dry hands in 10 seconds* using only 500 watts, making it the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly hand dryer on the planet. XLERATOReco sets another new industry standard in green innovation and sustainability. Drawing four and a half amps or less, multiple XLERATOReco units can be installed on one circuit, which significantly reduces installation time and costs. XLERATOReco represents over a 95 percent cost savings versus paper towels and eliminates their labor, maintenance and waste, while creating a more hygienic restroom environment.

For more information about IFMA’s Advocacy Day and Public Policy Forum, visit http://www.ifma.org/events/fm-events/event-details/2013/10/15/advocacy-day-public-policy-forum.

About Excel Dryer, Inc.

Excel Dryer is a family-owned and operated small business that has been manufacturing the finest American made hand dryers for over 50 years and the only ones that are Made In USA Certified®, featuring the XLERATOR hand dryer models. The XLERATOR hand dryer uses patented technology to completely dry hands three times faster (10 seconds) while using 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers. XLERATOR hand dryer was the first to be GreenSpec® Listed and also help facilities qualify for several LEED® v4 Credits. A peer reviewed (ISO 14040 standards) Life Cycle Assessment of XLERATOR confirmed it reduces the carbon footprint of hand drying by 50-70 percent when compared to both traditional hand dryers and even 100 percent recycled paper towels. The new XLERATOReco hand dryer model dries hands in 10 seconds using only 500 watts making it the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly hand dryer on the planet. Both XLERATOR and XLERATOReco are available with the industry’s most complete line of optional accessories featuring sound controls and HEPA filtration.