Dishwashers
Submitted by ArcticFox on Wed, 24/10/2007 - 21:15.
There is a running debate over whether dishwashers are a more energy efficient method of washing dishes than hand washing. This probably indicates that there is not much in it!
On the face of it, a dishwasher looks to be 2.5 times more efficient than handwashing, but:
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dishwashers use electricity to heat water, rather than gas which is more efficiently burned and produced
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if the dishwasher is not full, the comparison is not fair
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the British (it has been found) use less water than our European neighbours to wash dishes, and so use less energy
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some people leave the tap running to rinse the dishes, using more energy (if it’s the hot tap) and wasting water
The newest models are more energy efficient, saving around one third of running costs, but this only equates to around £10 per year, and so it is probably not financially worth your while.
It is also probably not financial good sense to buy a further set of plates and cutlery, to ensure you can fill your dishwasher before turning it on.
Dishwashers taking a feed of hot water are not generally available. This may well tilt the balance in favour of them yet again.
Gooshing has a wide range of dishwashers.
The Energy Saving Trust provide information on products and retailers.
