At a Glance:
5 Affordable and Energy Efficient Dishwashers
What Makes a Dishwasher Energy Efficient?
Are Efficient Dishwashers Worth It?
Dishwashers are an essential part of a home, especially if you’re running from dinner to soccer practice. An energy efficient dishwasher saves you time, money, and peace of mind. A standard dishwasher uses nearly 15 gallons of water per load, while an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher uses just under four gallons per load. That’s quite the difference. Check out five of our most adorable and energy-efficient dishwashers below (all below $1,200) and dive into a few tips to save even more money on electricity and water.
Shop Energy Star Qualified Dishwashers
Find energy-efficient dishwashers for every budget at Colder's.
5 Affordable and Energy Efficient Dishwashers
All of our energy-saving dishwashers below are certified by ENERGY STAR and feature cycles that save you time and money. Discover which dishwasher is best for your home!
Frigidaire Dishwasher: Frigidaire Gallery® 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
Being an energy-efficient dishwasher has a lot of advantages. One way this Frigidaire dishwasher makes the mark is by providing you with Dual OrbitClean. This washing system removes dried and baked-on stains, which eliminates the time you would have had to do it yourself. That means there is more water being saved from not hand-washing each dish.
Also, this Frigidaire dishwasher is equipped with DishSense Technology which also saves time and money. By automatically adjusting the wash cycles to what your dishes need, less water and heat are used throughout each cycle. Lastly, this stainless steel dishwasher has an eco-friendly cycle that uses less energy without giving up perfect cleaning performance.
Price Point: $549.99
What We Love:
- Eco-Friendly Cycle
- DishSense Technology
- Certified National Sanitation Foundation Dishwasher
- ENERGY STAR Certified
Beko Dishwasher: Beko 24" Fingerprint Free Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
The Beko brand is dedicated to making a sustainable and healthy living available to everyday consumers. They have achieved their goal with this Beko dishwasher. By implementing a sensor wash and sanitizing option to this dishwasher, Beko has provided you with an affordable, energy-efficient dishwasher.
Also, this Beko dishwasher is extremely quiet, so nap time is never disturbed. It provides you with SilentTech to suppress random noises and is equipped with an extra layer of insulation. Beko appliances have won the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award three consecutive times, so you know they care about saving you money.
Price Point: $589.00
What We Love:
- Named one of the Most Energy Efficient Dishwashers
- ENERGY STAR Certified
- SIlentTech Feature
- Sensor Wash Cycle
LG Dishwasher: LG 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
This energy efficient appliance is chock-full of time- and money-saving features. The QuadWash effectively cleans your dishes with four multi-motion spray arms so that time spent handwashing is eliminated. Also, the LG TrueSteam cycle penetrates food residue and decreases watermarks by 60 percent, leaving your dishes dryer than ever in quicker times.
This LG dishwasher is paired with the ThinQ app that provides you with easy access to your dishwasher even when you’re away from home. This saves you time and energy and creates less hassle for doing the dishes. If you forgot to hit ‘start’ before heading out of the house, the ThinQ app can do it for you. Lastly, this is an Energy Star certified dishwasher that provides your home with even more sustainability.
Price Point: $899.00
What We Love:
- QuadWash and TrueSteam Cycles
- Dynamic Dry Feature
- ThinQ App Technology
- ENERGY STAR Certified
Electrolux Dishwasher: Electrolux 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
This dishwasher from Electrolux saves energy by providing you with a 30-minute clean cycle that gets dishes sparkling clean in less time. If you have a few plates to load, there’s no need to waste a full-load amount of water on four dishes.
Also, by using technology like Target Wash Zones, you won’t need to reload any dishes due to food residue. This feature systematically targets hard-to-reach places like water bottles or stemware to efficiently clean them the first time. Lastly, this dishwasher is Energy Star certified to maximize energy efficiency and certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to ensure that 99.9 percent of bacteria are removed.
Price Point: $1,079.00
What We Love:
- Perfect Dry and Lux Care Wash Arm Features
- 30-Minute Clean Cycle
- ENERGY STAR Certified
- National Sanitation Foundation Certified
KitchenAid Dishwasher: KitchenAid® 24" Stainless Steel with Printshield Built In Dishwasher
This KitchenAid dishwasher hits the mark for being energy-efficient and affordable. This is the quietest dishwasher on our list, ringing in at 39 dBA’s ― which entitles it as an ultra-quiet appliance. On top of that, the ProWash cycle uses intelligent sensors to measure how much water and time each cycle needs which results in money and time saved.
Also, the Express Wash cycle ensures your smaller loads of dishes are cleaned in an appropriate amount of time. The days are gone when you load six dishes to waste a full-loads amount of water on them. The Sani-Rinse option eliminates 99.999 percent of food-borne bacteria. Pairing that with an ENERGY STAR emblem and this KitchenAid dishwasher will serve your family (and your wallet) for years to come.
Price Point: $1,039.00
What We Love:
- Ultra-Quiet Dishwasher (39 dBA)
- ProWash and Heat Dry Cycles
- Sani-Rinse Option
- EERGY STAR Certified
What Makes a Dishwasher Energy Efficient?
You may have noticed that all of our energy-efficient appliances above are marked by an ENERGY STAR certified emblem. This certification means each of these dishwashers uses less energy than a standard dishwasher. To earn a certified emblem that promotes an appliance as effectively energy efficient, there are strict criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency that has to be met.
Essentially, what makes a dishwasher energy efficient requires an annual energy usage that falls below a certain number of kilowatts per year (less than 240, to be exact). Also, the water consumption for an energy-efficient dishwasher has to be below 3.2 gallons per cycle for a standard-sized dishwasher.
An energy-efficient dishwasher delivers (on average) just 67 kilowatts of energy per year which is 22 percent above the Federal minimum. Also, energy-efficient standard dishwashers ring in at 36 percent over the Federal minimum requirement for saving water per year. Essentially, energy-efficient dishwashers that are marked with an ENERGY STAR emblem saves you cash and the earth energy each year.
Are Energy Efficient Dishwashers Worth It?
Dishwasher features like soil sensors, high-efficiency jets, and water filtration are just a few ways that an energy-efficient dishwasher can save you money and time over the years. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact amount of energy an efficient dishwasher will save you because that number varies from model to model. But on average, efficient dishwashers can save you 10 percent more energy and nearly 20 percent more water than an average dishwasher.
If you break down those numbers, an energy-saving dishwasher roughly costs $35 per year to run. And over the course of its lifespan, it can save nearly 4,000 gallons of water. Below, we’ll outline a few tips to reduce these numbers even more, to save you money over time.
Four Ways to Increase the Energy of Your Dishwasher
If you don’t have an energy-efficient dishwasher or you’re interested in how to save even more energy, take a look at these four tips below.
- Eliminate pre-washing. Most of the time, pre-washing your dishes isn’t necessary. If you have an energy-efficient dishwasher, then most likely, it will have the right features to eliminate caked-on food itself. Because your dishwasher is equipped to do this process for you, you’re actually wasting more time and water than you would be if you eliminated the pre-washing regimen.
- Don’t load half-loads. While some dishwashers do have a 30-minute cycle that is fit to wash smaller loads, it’s unwise to start a dishwasher with only a few plates. Pressing ‘start’ with only a half-load of plates is a great way to lose a lot of electricity and water.
- Air-dry your dishes. The heating options on a dishwasher are nice for eliminating water-marks, but these cycles are one of the most energy-sucking features. While ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers do eliminate some of the waste, it’s still best practice to let your dishes air dry.
- Load your dishes correctly. Lastly, make sure to load your dishes correctly when you’re about to run your dishwasher. If you place stemware on an obscure rack, certain jets won’t be able to reach them, resulting in unwashed wine glasses.
Choosing an energy-efficient dishwasher will save your home a lot of money over the years. Also, if you invest in a budget-friendly dishwasher that is also ENERGY STAR certified then you’ll be saving even more. Remember, when looking for a new dishwasher, check out the cycles it has to see if they are efficient for your home’s needs. Lastly, don’t forget to search for that energy efficient certification to ensure energy and water savings for years to come.
Efficient Dishwasher FAQs
Let’s review a few frequently asked questions regarding energy efficient dishwashers below.
How much energy does a dishwasher use?
An average dishwasher energy usage falls between 1,200 and 2,400 watts of power per cycle, which is roughly equivalent to powering a hairdryer for 10 minutes.
Do ENERGY STAR dishwashers use less water?
A certified ENERGY STAR dishwasher uses as little as three gallons of water per load.
Why Trust Colder’s?
Since 1942, we at Colder's pride ourselves on offering value, selection, and service. Serving Southeastern Wisconsin with four showrooms that stock quality name-brand furniture, appliances, and mattresses, Colder’s is sure to house exactly what you are looking for. And if you can't find it on our floors, chances are, we can order it for you. As a local, family-owned company, we are always doing our best to provide the highest value at the lowest cost to everyone who walks through our doors.
Colder’s is committed not only to continuously offering can’t-miss sales but also to working with each customer, making sure that you take advantage of every possible markdown — that’s our best price guarantee.
Shop Dishwashers at Colder’s
Don’t put off happiness — and shop dishwashers online for unbeatable prices at Colder’s. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find energy efficient dishwashers whether you call us at 414-476-1574 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one our Colder’s locations in West Allis, Oak Creek, Delafield, and Grafton, Wisconsin to touch, see, feel, and experience home products that fulfill your dreams. Visit us today!
Learn More: Countertops or Appliances: What to Install First