This paper towel dispenser tells you how wasteful you’re being

Imagine that the paper towel dispenser in your favourite washroom let you know that you are killing the planet every time you use it.

A team of SFU students has essentially made this a reality. The PullMeNot is being billed as a smart paper towel dispenser.

What the dispenser does is count how many towels have been used. It translates that figure into two statistics for users and businesses: the cost per day and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

“It allows businesses to see just how efficient—or inefficient—their operations are and make adjustments accordingly. Most importantly, users are able to tangibly see the impact of their personal actions on the environment," Siv Padhy, a SFU communication student, stated in a news release.

The PullMeNot netted the students, from SFU's Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Association, an award at the nwHACKS hackathon. Their software and hardware could be used in everything from water fountains to heaters.

You can check out the PullMeNot at Surrey’s Party for the Planet on Saturday (April 25).