It's widely believed that dishwashers are convenient but use more water and energy than hand washing. In fact, hand washing a load of dishes uses about 27 gallons of water, while using an ENERGY STAR®-rated dishwasher can use as little as 3 gallons. Using a dishwasher — rather than hand washing — can save you more than $40 annually, according to ENERGY STAR.

Additional ways to save energy while washing dishes include:

1. Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them. Most dishwashers can clean off food residue and rinsing just wastes water.
    
2. Dry on the lowest possible temperature setting. This not only saves energy but also avoids spotting of glassware.
    
3. Operate the dishwasher only when you have a full load. Running on partial loads wastes energy and water.

If your dishwasher is older or in need of repair, purchase a new ENERGY STAR-certified model. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use less energy and water than standard models while providing the same level of performance.