Power

I'm wondering how much power goes into a typical blow dryer.  You've probably asked yourself that very same question thousands of times.
Not a day goes by without someone asking the President in a press conference that question.  It's the first thing most children ask Santa Clause.  You'll never see a time capsule unearthed that doesn't contain that request...

O.K., I've clearly laid out the case that we're all wondering about this.

Here's what I know.
1.  If you want to have the lights go out, you can:
      a.  flip off the switch
      b.  run your hair dryer while anything else in your house, or your neighbor's house, is on

It just seems like they blow more circuits than the Goo Goo Dolls (notorious for their circuit destruction)

I recently used the hand dryer unit at a local restroom.  I did what you're supposed to.  I carefully read the instructions:
In order to dry your hands most efficiently, please use the
following procedure:
• shake off excess water over the wash basin
• place hands underneath the unit at a distance of 4" - 7"
• rub your hands together as if you were washing them
Your hands will be dry within 25 - 35 seconds.

They went on to say that this was good for the environment and was "more hygienic".  So my question is really this simple.
-Is it good for the environment to have these inefficient blowers killing the electric bill and blowing Germy McGerm's nastiness into the air?  Shouldn't the last instruction be to then wipe your hands on your pants? (am I the only one who ends up doing this?)