A dishwasher saves you the trouble of having to wash dirty plates, cups, and dishes after every meal. The dishwashing process is simple. All dishes and cutlery are loaded into the built-in racks and the machine is switched on.
A dishwasher begins its operations by spraying hot water (around 150˚ F) at the dishes to dislodge food particles. A mixture of detergent and water is run over the dishes to clean them followed by another spray of water to remove all traces of detergent residue. A single dishwashing session will involve multiple wash and rinse cycles.
Buying an energy efficient dishwasher:
Most dishwasher models are designed to be energy efficient. Here are some tips on what to look for while purchasing a new dishwasher:
Energy rating: The Energy Star and Energy Guide labels are a good way to check how efficient your dishwasher claims to be. An energy saving dishwasher is one that has an energy factor of at least 0.65. The energy factor defines how many cycles are run on 1 kWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity. In terms of power consumption, this dishwasher will use less than 340 kWh of electricity in an entire year.
Water savings: A dishwasher uses a lot of water every time it is run. Buying a dishwasher that uses less water than other models can greatly save on water bills. Since this information is not part of the Energy Star rating, you will have to obtain it by reading the manufacturer's brochures. Alternatively, you can contact your local utility service and ask for their recommendations.
Usage options: A dishwasher whose controls can be adjusted is likely to be more energy efficient. Most models have a variety of options to control the cycles in terms of energy consumption and water usage, depending on the number of dishes. An additional advantage is 'soil sensor' technology. It allows the machine to detect how dirty the dishes are and regulate water use accordingly.
Heating considerations: Heat is an integral part of dishwasher function. Around 7% of the total energy is used to generate heat to dry the dishes at the end of a wash session. A dishwasher that uses room temperature air rather than hot air to dry the dishes greatly decreases the energy consumption of the appliance.
Energy saving usage tips:
Using a dishwasher in an energy efficient manner can lead to savings on energy costs. Pre-rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher is a waste of water. If leftover food is a problem, just scrape off the food before you put it in the dishwasher.
The energy efficiency of a dishwasher is highest when the appliance is washing a full load. This is because the machine will use the same amount of water for washing, regardless of how many dishes are being washed. Energy can also be saved by turning down the thermostat in the appliance, to decrease the energy required to heat the water.