Five Questions with Brian Heun, a product manager at Rubbermaid Commercial Products.

What are the benefits of hands-free bathroom fixtures?

For toilets and urinals, various touch-free flushers and automatic cleaning systems reduce points of cross contamination and keeping them flushed and clean makes them presentable. Automatic cleaning systems allow for continuous cleaning to keep fixtures functioning and operating well. If you move over to the wash station, touch-free faucets and soap dispensers encourage frequent hand washing and you don't have the risk of germs living in those areas. People prefer touch-free washrooms and are more likely to wash their hands.

And many of those features also offer water conservation and other environmental benefits?

Automatic faucets reduce up to 70 percent of water used. The appropriate time for hand washing is 20 seconds and the water is typically running the entire time. With automatically activated faucets the water is running only when needed and not the whole time.

What about self-cleaning systems?

They reduce chemical usage by releasing set dosage around the clock, rather than the cleaning staff pouring and estimating. The old saying more is better doesn't hold true anymore. The (U.S. Green Building Council) is recommending instead of using more chemicals at one time, use less amounts more frequently.

That can help with LEED credits?

SaniCell (Rubbermaid's cleaning system) contributes to green credits for minimized chemical usage and by also reducing exposure of the staff to cleaning chemicals, you also get points for green cleaning.

Does this cost more?

It doesn't mean you need to spend more money. When you look at traditional manual flushing, over time those handles take a beating, people kicking them, overuse and you have maintenance costs with plumbers coming in. Over a lifecycle, the ROI makes thes a truly great investment in the long run.