Water-efficient washing machines and dishwashers

Choosing water-efficient appliances for your laundry and dishes saves both water and energy.

A high-efficiency washing machine can use 40% less water and 50% less energy than a standard one. It also needs less detergent, is gentler on your clothes and takes up less room.

When your washing machine or dishwasher needs replacing, pick a high-efficiency, water-saving model; these are energy efficient as well. In a dishwasher, about 60% of the energy goes into heating water, so using less water also means using less energy. Look for the Energy Star label, but compare water use too, because some Energy Star models use less water than others. Before 1994, a dishwasher needed about 15 gallons per cycle; the best models today need only 4. For laundry, front loaders use much less water than top loaders and leave clothes drier, which also saves energy in the dryer.

Whatever appliance you have, wait for a full load before running it. For the washing machine alone, this habit can save a typical household thousands of gallons of water each year.