Dishwashers require energy to operate the motor, heat the water and dry the dishes. Here are some simple efficiency measures that can reduce the amount of energy used.

• Don't run your dishwasher until it's completely full.
• Use the economy cycle.
• Choose the air-dry (instead of the heat-dry) setting. If you don't have these settings, turn the appliance off after the final rinse and prop the door open to let the dishes dry without using extra energy.
• Help your dishwasher operate more efficiently by checking drains and filters to make sure they're not clogged with food.