Do you know how much your dishwasher contributes to your overall energy costs? In many households it is not uncommon for a dishwasher to use more power and water than a laundry machine. When choosing a new dishwasher, energy efficiency should be the primary factor in your decision making.

The energy cost of your dishwasher is considerably dependent upon the size of your household. Simply put, smaller households tend to save more on energy costs than larger households, but things are not always so simple. Having a large dishwasher in a home with fewer than four people is a surefire way to waste extra money on power and water. Small households should consider purchasing a compact machine like the Frigidaire 18" built-in dishwasher.

For larger households, larger capacity dishwashers seem like an obvious choice, but choosing an energy efficient machine is not always so simple. The first step in choosing the right high capacity dishwasher is check for the Energy Star logo. Energy Star compliant dishwashers have been tested and guarantee significant energy savings over their non-compliant counterparts. Miele fully integrated dishwashers are an example of large-capacity energy efficient machines. With three racks and deep capacity, a Miele Integrated Dishwasher is large enough to clean the heftiest dish loads while still rendering significant energy savings.

Some dishwashers include extra energy-saving features that ensure extensive savings. Dishwashers in the Bosch Evolution Series feature EcoAction and EcoSense, two exclusive technologies that render impressive energy savings. Some Bosch Evolution dishwashers exceed Energy Star requirements by 86% for energy and up to 269% for water. All Fisher & Paykel DishDrawers are Energy Star qualified and use as little as 1.95 gallons of water per drawer.

For more helpful appliance shopping tips visit the appliance experts at Standards of Excellence, Florida Builder Appliances, or Westar Kitchen and Bath showroom.