Dishwasher: does the water efficiency outweigh the energy used to heat the water?

Question

I know using a dishwasher saves water, but I'm trying to decide if it is worth it since it uses so much hot water and electricity has to be used for that. What do you think? Does the benefit balance the loss?

I'm more concerned about wasting energy than money, by the way...

Answer 1

One thing you can do is to ensure that the dishwasher is always completely full up before using it, with careful packing you can get a lot in in for each wash.



There are techniques to make a dishwasher even more efficient. You can save energy by stopping it before the drying cycle ends, and letting it air dry instead. And you can save water and effort by not rinsing dishes under a tap beforehand. Most dishwashers have several setting so use the economy settings where possible.

You can also use a eco friendly dishwasher powder.

Answer 2

Googled:  According to research, a load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand. *******If you fill the wash and rinse basins of your sink instead of just letting the water run, however, you will use half as much water as the normal dishwasher load.

The way I do dishes is: Fill the sink with about 2" of water, add soap and all the silverware and several drinking glasses. I wash all the glasses and set them back in the water till I have them all clean then begin rinsing with running water over the soapy dishes so the water doesn't just go down the drain in the other side. Put them in the drainer as i go then add more and repeat till they are done. When all dishes are done there is only silverware left in the soapy water and I do them last this way they have soaked the whole time and they come clean easily. If the sink gets too full I will let a little water out as I go. I really have never measured how much water I use but I'm sure it would not equal more than about 1 1/2 sink fulls (about 3 gals?) If I boil eggs, when they are done I always pour the hot water over the soapy dishes in the sink - why just pour it down the drain? Now you know why they call me eccentric.

Answer 3

I would definitely "google" consumer reviews/reports with your question.  You need facts derived from tested data.

Answer 4

Dishwashers use less water and electricity than hand washing.  I know it sounds crazy but it is true.  The dishwasher must be energy efficient and fairly new, the old ones use a lot of water and electricity.  Because the new dishwashers use less water they are not heating as much water as filling up a sink.  The have heat coils in them that heat the cold water at a faster rate then your hot water tank can.  Hot water tanks use a lot of electricity to heat the water, a new dishwasher doesn't.  You need to only run the dishwasher full, to get the most energy savings from it.  For more info you can go to the energy star website.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=di...

Answer 5

A dishwasher uses less energy and less water than washing by hand.

Answer 6

Don't you heat water when you wash by hand?  The savings by hand would be the power to run the washer not heat the water. But most reports say this is nominal and more can be washed in the washer.