Dishwashers

Maximize your dishwasher's energy efficiency

The dishwasher is a major time-saver in the kitchen. Follow these dishwasher tips to conserve energy while you clean up.

Run your dishwasher full

Wait until you have a full load to ensure you use the maximum capacity of your dishwasher. By running full loads, you can reduce the number of times you use the dishwasher by around two loads per week, which can save you about $15 per year.

Avoid overloading the dishwasher or blocking the water arms though – the dishwasher can't work efficiently if it's overloaded.

Hand-washing vs. dishwasher

Which is more energy-efficient: hand-washing dishes or using a dishwasher? The answer is whichever uses less water, which more often than not means the dishwasher, as long as you're waiting until you have a full load to run it. This helps make the most of the energy, water, and detergent used to get your dishes clean.

Choose an ENERGY STAR® dishwasher

If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR rating. An ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher uses 12% less energy and 30% less water on average than a standard model.

Dishwashers that have earned ENERGY STAR's "Most Efficient" designation are the best of the best – they'll save you more energy than standard models.