Which is more energy efficient a dishwasher or hand washing?

A question from AskFocusonEnergy:

Quesiton: Would I save more energy by replacing my old dishwasher or doing my dishes by hand?

Answer: Compared to washing dishes by hand, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher:
+ Can lower utility bills
+ Uses half as much energy
+ Saves nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year

ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers:
+ Use 25% less energy than conventional models
+ Use less hot water, saving you $90 over their lifetime
+ Internal water heaters, which reduce water heating costs by 20%
+ Boost water temperatures to 140 degrees -- well above scalding temperatures. Washing dishes with hotter water allows for improved disinfection compared to washing by hand at much lower temperatures.
+ Run quieter than older models -- over 50% quieter than models produced 10 years ago!

Posted in: Energy efficiency