Over spring break UGL-Unicco, an independent company that cleans 41 buildings on campus, installed touchless hand soap and body wash Green Seal-certified dispensers in various restrooms and locker rooms on campus. The installation took the full week and was done in accordance with UNH's Green Cleaning Program, to sustain the green initiative on campus by using more environmentally-friendly cleaning methods.
The new, higher-quality soap won't dry out the skin as much as the previous brand. The automatic dispensing will also eliminate bacteria exchange between customers. The new soap dispensers will save time and money, as they do not need to be refilled as often. Although a cost-savings analysis is still in the works, UGL-Unicco expects the new dispensers to not only be more environmentally responsible, but also more cost-efficient.
"The initial installation cost of the dispensers came out of UGL-Unicco's budget, but through our partnership we were able to install them at no additional cost to the university," said Tim Cullinan, account manager of UGL-Unicco. "It was a larger initial startup fee, but we're expecting to see a long-term benefit."
The dispensers were installed in the 41 buildings under contract with UGL-Unicco and body wash dispensers were included in various facilities such as the Hamel Recreation Center locker rooms and the Chase Ocean Engineering building. The other buildings on campus are cleaned and overseen by the university, which is currently exploring a similar soap dispenser option after their current contract runs out.
Cullinan said he thought that general feedback has been positive thus far. Students appreciated the innovation, but had mixed feelings about their importance.
"I like them," said Maggie Wentworth, a senior. "It's definitely easier, though I'm not sure how necessary it was."
"They make a weird sound, and they don't work all the time, which I think is annoying," said Kristy Smith, a junior. "I'd rather just have regular soap."
Senior Glen Carver said he was surprised when he came back from break to new hand dispensers.
"I tried to push, and there was nothing to push at," he said. "But it seems kind of unnecessary.
Sophomore Nick Ramsay agreed. "It wasn't that hard to pump the soap out," he said.
Will Brehm, a junior on the UNH track team, has yet to use the new body wash because the track team locker room in the Field House still uses the manual body wash dispensers.
"I use the body wash in the shower almost every day after practice and it is convenient, but I really see no difference between regular hand soap and the body wash," said Brehm.
He said he'd be interested in the higher quality of the new dispensers and the added benefit of a cleaner, touchless dispenser, but feels that it's more of a health benefit than an environmental benefit.
Catie Perella, a junior who regularly uses the Field House locker room shared between the swimming, field hockey, and track teams as well as the general UNH community, believes in the health benefit that the new dispensers would bring.
"I like how I don't have to touch as many germs with the dispensers that I've used in some restrooms on campus but I personally don't feel they dispense enough foam to make me feel clean," said Perella.
She also said that although the locker room she uses has no body wash dispensers at all, she and most other girls using these facilities would rather use their own products than the ones provided. For that reason, she thinks the hand soap dispensers are a better investment.
Based on the positive feedback, UNH is currently in the process of evaluating options for similar dispensers in the other buildings on campus all using Green Seal-certified products.
Cullinan is also in the process of expanding the Green Cleaning Program with other products such as Activeion Pro, a dispenser that ionizes tap water to create a completely green cleaning solution.
News Editor Keeley Smith contributed to this story.
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