Heating and cooling uses the majority of the energy in the home. Other appliances like the refrigerator and dishwasher use their share of energy and can add to electricity costs each month. Dishwashers could be a hidden energy drain, because some homeowners might not think twice about washing half loads or setting extra long wash cycles.

Homeowners that run long cycles and who do multiple loads of dishes each week (or each day) will be using more energy and bumping up those utility bills. The most energy-efficient dishwasher, though, helps clean up energy waste and helps save homeowners cycle after cycle.

What is the most energy-efficient dishwasher? Here’s what homeowners need to know when shopping for these energy-saving options.

What Makes a Dishwasher Energy Efficient?

ENERGY STAR explains that energy-efficient dishwashers have the following features:

• Sensors that can determine the soil level of dishes (and how intensely they need to be cleaned)
• Updated water filtration
• Improved jets
• More efficiently designed racks

Energy-efficient dishwashers will include the ENERGY STAR label denoting their efficiency. ENERGY STAR explains that these dishwashers cost less than $3 per month to operate—a total of $35 per year. In addition, they save thousands of gallons of water throughout their lifetime (a total of 3,870 gallons).

What is the Best Energy-Efficient Dishwasher?

ENERGY STAR ranked the most energy-efficient dishwashers for 2022. Multiple Miele models took the top spots as the most efficient dishwashers. The Miele models only use 199 kilowatts of electricity per year. In fact, Miele models dominate the list!

Unfortunately, prices were not included in the list. Consumers may have to shop around for prices and compare deals at different stores.

How Much Does an Energy-Efficient Dishwasher Cost?

Consumers might be curious how much an upgraded energy-efficient model might cost. Like most appliances, the price of dishwashers can vary considerably. Prices may differ according to color, too. Stainless steel finishes are usually an additional cost. Larger dishwashers also are more expensive.

Some models may be less than $400, while higher end models can cost several thousand dollars. Homeowners might review the list of most efficient dishwashers from ENERGY STAR and research their favorites.

Miele is considered a high-end dishwasher brand. Price points begin at around $1,000 for models. To find Miele dishwashers, homeowners may need to search for a dealer in their area.

Can Homeowners Improve the Energy Efficiency of an Older Dishwasher?

Many homeowners are not going to be in a huge hurry to replace an appliance if it’s still in good working condition. Dishwashers can be expensive, especially if a homeowner intends to splurge on a high-end model that features the best energy efficiency.

Homeowners can reduce the energy waste of their current dishwasher, though. If that old dishwasher is washing away the budget, try these tips:

• Only wash full loads of dishes. Washing partial loads is just a waste of water and electricity.
• Opt for shorter cycles if dishes aren’t too dirty.
• Rinse the dishes before loading.
• Choose the air dry cycle. Edison International explains that some dishwashers have the option of the heated dry or an air dry. Heated dry uses more energy.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make in using their dishwasher is just using it too frequently. While there may be dishes in the dishwasher, always wash full loads.

Some homeowners also select incredibly long cycles; some can last three hours or maybe more. If dishes are incredibly dirty, longer cycles could be the best bet. However, if homeowners are washing half-full loads for several hours, they could be wasting energy.

Many dishwashers let users select the dirt level of their dishes. If homeowners pre-rinse dishes, they may be able to use shorter cycles. However, if they are washing dishes that had raw meat or seafood or even really grimy dishes, those longer heated cycles knock out the bacteria.

Washing dishes is a bit like washing clothes. Some clothes and some dishes need that extra time for cleaning. Others might not.

To help consumers understand each cycle and how to best wash each load, Whirlpool provides a guide to explain each cycle. For example, Whirlpool models include a sanitize cycle that helps ensure deeper cleaning (to kill bacteria). Other brands may have similar resources.

If homeowners are shopping for the best energy-efficient dishwasher, they may need to find Miele models. However, these models are priced a bit higher. There are many other energy-efficient models, though, that won’t wash out the budget. Homeowners can explore the list of models via ENERGY STAR and find the best choice for their space and their budget.