Dishwashers

Image of the yellow EnergyGuide label with arrows pointing to two numbers in large type. The estimated yearly operating cost is $67 and the estimated yearly electricity use is 630 kilowatt hours.

How to Read the EnergyGuide Label
The EnergyGuide label gives you two important pieces of information you can use to compare different brands and models when shopping for a new refrigerator:

Estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity.
Estimated energy consumption on a scale showing a range for similar models

Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The EnergyGuide label estimates how much power is needed per year to run the appliance and to heat the water based on the yearly cost of natural gas and electric water heating.

Dishwasher Tips

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F).
Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.
Avoid using the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.

Long-Term Savings Tip

When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find a dishwasher that uses less water and 41% less energy than required by federal standards.