As a staple appliance in most homes, and with all the other appliances being an electricity hog, have you wondered if dishwashers save electricity?
Wonder no more! Dishwashers have been designed to use less energy than you’d think.
In fact, if dishwashers can use as little as one-fourth of the amount of water that you would use if you hand wash your dishes.
Dishwashers use less energy than you normally would when washing dishes in your sink and by hand.
The Average Dishwasher Electricity Usage: How Much Electricity Does a Dishwasher Use?
So, how much electricity does a dishwasher use? Most 1200-kWh models approximately use 10-20 cents per cycle. 1400-kwh models use about 12-25 cents per cycle.
With these numbers, dishwashers have an estimated annual energy usage of 320 kWh. That’s just about the same as a 40-watt light bulb burning for eight hours per day, 365 days a year.
On the other hand, handwashing dishes has an annual energy usage of 1,700 kWh. What does this mean? An average dishwasher’s electricity usage is about 20%, while washing dishes by hand uses 100% more energy than a dishwasher.
Is a Dishwasher More Efficient Than Washing Dishes By Hand?
If the average dishwasher uses about four gallons of water per cycle, and handwashing dishes can easily use up to 20 gallons of water, just imagine how much more energy-efficient it can be?
Washing dishes by hand has not been an energy and water saver – and it never will be.
Aside from consuming too much time from your end, it can also drain your energy, taking you away from other important things to do. Using a dishwashing machine can save you more energy for the following reasons:
Energy-efficient Motors and Power Usage
Most modern dishwashers use motors that are specially designed to be energy-efficient. Energy Star certified dishwashers use about 30% less electricity than other models, and they also use 65% less water.
Water Heating
Most dishwashers have a water heating feature that warms the water before it enters the dishwasher. This means that you don’t have to wait for the water to heat up on your stove every time you want to do a load of dishes.
Power Usage During Wash Cycle
Dishwashing machines can save you a lot of time by washing your dishes in the shortest time possible. The amount of time that a dishwasher runs is typically about 30 minutes, while it can take you up to two hours to handwash the same number of dishes.
Drying Cycles
A big part of energy consumption comes from the drying cycle of dishwashers. Dishwashers have been designed to use less energy in this stage by using air dryers and moisture sensors.
Conclusion
Dishwashers are responsible for saving electricity in more than one way. For starters, they use less water than hand washing dishes do, which means you’re using less energy to heat up the water, and you don’t have to worry about drying them off either!
So, if you’re looking for ways to save on your electricity bill, using a dishwasher is a great way to do it. Not only will you be saving money, but also your time, water, and also environmental resources in the long run.
