A squeaky clean stack of washed dishes comes with a few dark secrets — most notably, the energy used to heat the water contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, if you live in a drought-prone area, using all that water is bad for the environment.
The good news is, we can easily make dishwashing more sustainable. “Everyone has an important role to play in fighting climate change,” says Greg Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. “Smarter dishwashing is something we can all do.”
Keoleian is the senior author of a UM study that compared manual and machine dishwashing. Here are some suggestions from him and environmental toxicity specialist Tonya Harris for making dishwashing more sustainable.
Use the Dishwasher, Usually
In most circumstances, using the dishwasher consumes less energy and water than handwashing. Keoleian’s study compared machine washing vs. washing dishes with the tap running. The dishwasher resulted in 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% water savings.
“Most of the emissions are tied to the energy used to heat the water,” says Keoleian. “Some [people] wash their dishes before using the dishwasher, which defeats the advantage of the dishwasher over handwashing.”
Choose an Efficient Dishwasher
Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than their dated counterparts. Many use less than four gallons per load, run quieter and feature more innovations. Beko’s Series 39 dishwashers offer a dedicated spot for cleaning tall bottles, a self-cleaning filter and a spray arm that moves in a square to clean corners more effectively.
The downside with new dishwashers? They require more patience. “To get the same results as older dishwashers, the more efficient ones need to run longer,” says Harris.
When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the yellow appliance standard labels to determine how much energy and water it will use. Also look for:
- An Energy Star rating;
- Eco-wash, auto-sensing and air-dry settings;
- A large capacity so you can run it fewer times during the week;
- A manufacturing company with an environmental ethos.
