Living Like Ed - (Page 28) Energy-Efficient Dishwashers Ed used to be adamant about doing the dishes by hand. I’d just as soon use the dishwasher. I said, “Let’s just get a very RACHELLE’S efficient dishwasher.” You know what Ed said? “You have TURN one. His name is Ed.” Well, guess what. It turns out using an Energy Star dishwasher is actually more energy efficient—and more waterwise—than washing dishes by hand. So there! I gave Rachelle a hard time about using the dishwasher for years. The truth is, I find solace and joy and happiness in doing dishes, and I was always careful about filling up the sink with soapy water, rather than letting the water run while I was cleaning plates and pots and pans. Still, as careful as I was, there are now Energy Star–qualified dishwashers that are even more efficient than I am. Beyond that, a dishwasher uses hotter water than you can stand when you’re hand washing. Energy Star dishwashers get that water up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which does a much better job of disinfecting your dishes, so it’s more sanitary. A dishwasher saves time, too—more than 230 hours a year. Of course, you need to develop good dishwashing habits to maximize the eco-savings. First, people, “On average, refrigerators manufactured before 1993 cost over $50 more per year to
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