The refrigerator might be the biggest appliance in your kitchen, but the dishwasher might be the most important one. Having a dishwasher makes cleaning up after meals easy and convenient. But not all dishwashers are created equal. If you’re thinking about replacing yours, consider upgrading to an energy efficient dishwasher.

An energy efficient dishwasher uses less energy to perform the same tasks as other dishwashers. Is an energy efficient dishwasher right for you? Here’s what you should know:

How Much Energy Does An Energy Efficient Dishwasher Save?

Energy efficient dishwashers are designed with new technologies such as soil sensors, better water filtration, and high efficiency jets. Thanks to these technologies, energy efficient dishwashers are capable of cleaning your dishes without consuming as much electricity or water as standard models.

The exact amount of energy that an energy efficient dishwasher saves can vary from model-to-model. But in general, energy efficient dishwashers are 10% more energy efficient and 20% more water efficient than other models. Because of these efficiencies, it only costs about $35 per year to operate an energy efficient dishwasher. 

Energy efficient dishwashers only use between four to six gallons of water per load to clean your dishes. This means investing in an energy efficient dishwasher could save nearly 4,000 gallons of water over the course of its lifespan.

How Much Is An Energy Efficient Dishwasher?

The cost of an energy efficient dishwasher can range from around $600 to nearly $3,000. The cost can vary depending on a number of factors, including:

• Size
• Brand
• Special features such as stainless steel, LED lighting, WiFi connectivity, innovative rack design, and more.

Some utility companies and appliance manufacturers offer rebates to customers who purchase energy efficient dishwashers. If you qualify for one of these rebates, this would offset some of the initial cost of your dishwasher.

How Can I Find the Most Energy Efficient Dishwasher?

There are many different energy efficient dishwashers, which makes it hard to figure out which one is right for you. Follow these tips to find the most energy efficient dishwasher for your home:

• Check the EnergyGuide label. This label will tell you how much energy it takes to keep each dishwasher model running. You can use this information to quickly compare different models, which makes it easier to select the most energy efficient one for your home.
• Choose the appropriate size. Dishwashers are typically categorized as standard or compact. A standard model holds more than eight place settings and six serving pieces, whereas a compact model holds fewer than eight place settings and six serving pieces. If you don’t need a lot of space, purchase a compact model instead of a standard one. Compact models are smaller, so they use less energy.
• Look for multiple cycle options. If your dishwasher has multiple cycle options, you can adjust its settings to fit the needs of each load. This way, you will never use more electricity or water than necessary to clean your dishes.

How to Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Dishwasher

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new appliance in order to increase the energy efficiency of your dishwasher. If you want to stick with your existing model, there are several simple steps you can take to make it more energy efficient. Here’s what to do:

• Don’t pre-rinse your dishes. Washing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher can waste up to 20 gallons of water. To save energy, scrape food off of the dishes instead of pre-rinsing them.
• Wait for a full load. Don’t hit the start button until your dishwasher is full of dirty dishes. Running a half-empty load can waste a significant amount of electricity and water.
• Let your dishes air dry. Turn the “heated dry” option off on your dishwasher and let them air dry instead. It may take a little longer for your dishes to dry, but it will save a lot of energy.
• Load your dishwasher correctly. If dishes aren’t loaded correctly, your dishwasher may not be able to thoroughly clean them in just one cycle. To avoid running multiple cycles, keep this in mind when loading your dishwasher:

• Place oversized items in the back of the bottom rack. Large items can block the water spray if they aren’t positioned correctly. 
• Position items with baked-on food facedown on the bottom rack near the lower spray arm. 
• Mix your spoons, knives, and forks together when loading them into the dishwasher. This will prevent them from nesting together and allow your dishwasher to clean each individual utensil.

By taking these steps, you can improve the energy efficiency of your dishwasher without spending a dime.