Fact Sheets

There are many ways to save energy through the items in your house. Learn here about energy efficient appliances, equipment, and materials.
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Home Appliances : Dishwashers

Dishwashers

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Why is this important?

On average, two gallons of water per cycle can be saved.

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Dishwashers are a large user of energy, both in terms of electricity as well as water usage.  Energy efficient dishwashers are able to wash dishes just as well, but do not use nearly the amount of water or energy to do the job.

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How to buy?
Energy-Saving Tips
How much can I save?

How to buy?

  • Look for the ENERGY STAR label
  • Check out the yellow ENERGYguide tag to determine the amount of power and water that would be consumed in a year by that dishwasher.
  • Select the dishwasher with the higher EF, or Energy Factor, which is used to compare energy efficiency.
  • Select an appropriate sized model.  Make sure the dishwasher holds all the dishes you want to wash.
  • Choose a model with several wash cycle selections.
  • Choose a dishwasher with a soil-sensor (The soil sensor will allow the dishwasher to adjust the amount of water to get rid of excess waste on dishes).
  • Choose a dishwasher with a booster heater --It will allow you to lower the water temperature on the dishwasher to 120°F, while it heats the water to the standard 140°F -- this will save you money on water-heating in the dishwasher.

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Energy-Saving Tips

  • Install the dishwasher away from the refrigerator; the heat from the dishwasher will make the refrigerator work harder to keep food fresh and cool.
  • To save water, let dishes soak in a container or sink full of water, rather than running water over each piece.
  • Scrape rather than rinse when appropriate.
  • Wash full-loads only.
  • Use energy-saving wash cycles – choose the lowest energy setting.
  • Avoid the rinse-hold feature because it uses three to seven gallons of hot water for each use; remember that energy is needed to heat water.
  • Avoid the pre-rinse feature when possible.
  • Turn down the water-heater temperature if your dishwasher is equipped with a booster heater – the higher the water temperature, the more energy required to power the dishwasher.
  • Use the air-dry option rather than the heat-dry option on the dishwasher – you’ll see energy savings of 15-50% from the dishwasher.

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How much can I save?

By buying an ENERGY STAR dishwasher, you may save up to $50-200 per year on your electricity and water bills. These appliances are more energy efficient and use less water to operate.

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