Have you ever done this?
You load your dishwasher and start it. The cycle is going, then, you hear the rush of water followed by what seems like too much water. You mentally tell yourself, this can’t be good for the environment.
If you’re like most people then most likely the answer is yes, you have. In this article, I will tell you if your dishwasher is bad for the environment.
But first, let’s review the workings of a dishwasher, the rest of the article will make much more sense after that.
How do dishwashers work?
There is no doubt that you already have an idea about how dishwashing appliances work.
But do you know about the gritty details of the process?
Dishwashers start by bringing water in from the water supply in your home. Since the water must be hot, it uses your home’s water heating system. Many dishwashers use a built-in heating element to help with heating to higher temperatures. Your dishwasher heats the water to a temperature between 45 and 75 °C. Hot water sanitizes your dishes making them squeaky clean.
Next, the dishwasher uses jets to spray water for the powerful removal of debris and food. Before your dishwasher sprays your dishes, it mixes the hot water with the dishwasher detergent.
If I may say, so I recommend using natural dishwasher detergent for an extra environmental friendly boost. You can find it as a powder, gels, tablets, and even pods. Companies often make natural dishwasher detergents with plant-based ingredients, without harsh chemicals, dyes, and fragrances. What’s more, most natural detergents come in environmentally friendly packaging.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try to make DIY natural detergent. You can find many recipes with an internet search. But that’s another discussion.
Back to what I was saying about dishwashers. The water splashes to the bottom where it pools. Next, the dishwasher filters, reheats, then jets spray water again. Filtering and reheating the water continues until the end of the main wash cycle. The whole process is what cleans the dishes.
But it’s not over. Now the dishwasher drains the water. Then pulls more clean water and sprays it through the jets again. Heating followed by filtering then spraying the water repeats a few more times. This rinses your dishes thoroughly of any detergent left behind.
Keeping the kitchen tap running leads to approximately 157 kg of CO2 being released per year while the dishwasher produces 142 kg of CO2.
BBC
Finally, when your dishes are clean, it’s time to dry them. Usually, the heat generated during cleaning creates hot air for drying. Some appliances use the installed heating component to dry. But this article isn’t about how a dishwasher works, is it?
Stay with me here, the next parts have your answer!
How much water does a dishwasher use?
As you can see, dishwashers are great for cleaning and disinfecting dishes. Though the process may seem long, your dishwasher filters and reuses the water. Using a dishwasher does not waste water. Instead, the dishwasher recycles the water and uses it efficiently. But exactly how much water does a dishwasher use?
You’ll be surprised to find that, according to this article, a standard dishwasher uses up to 13 Litres per wash for a full load of dishes (around 144 pieces). It also states that washing up by hand uses up to 100 Litres per wash for the same number of pieces.
So if you’re “building” a zero waste kitchen, a dishwasher is great, but make sure you’re only running it when it’s full!
An Energy Star Certified dishwasher can use no more than 15 Litres for a full load of dishes.
What does Energy Star certified mean, you ask?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the US Department of Energy (DOE) run the Energy Star program. The program establishes water and energy-saving requirements in an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint. Being Energy Star certified means an appliance successfully meets these requirements.
According to its website, Energy Star is a “government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.”
If you are interested in energy efficient appliances. Make sure you go through our guides about energy efficient kettles, halogen ovens and slow cookers.
The goal of this symbol is to show consumers which products and appliances are more energy-efficient, therefore more environmentally friendly. Their website also states, “energy certified dishwashers are 12% more energy-efficient and 30% more water-efficient than standard models.” It claims that over its lifetime the energy-certified dishwasher saves about 17,593.37 Litres of water.
How does energy come into play?
Keep reading and you’ll find out.
Handwashing and using a dishwasher both require hot water. Hot water comes from your home heating system or the dishwasher’s built-in heating component. Heating the water uses energy in either case. The energy from the grid mostly used releases CO2. With a dishwasher, you use less hot water. Therefore, the dishwasher emits less CO2.
An article written by the BBC, claims that “Keeping the kitchen tap running leads to approximately 157 kg of CO2 being released per year while the dishwasher produces 142 kg of CO2.”. Most people who wash up by hand do it by either continuously running the tap, or filling the sink with hot water to soak and wash. Then they use another sink full of hot water to rinse. Some people may use a mix of both.
You would be right to say that there is not a significant difference in CO2 emissions. However, reducing CO2 emissions in any capacity helps our environment, don’t you agree?
This study, from the University of Michigan in the United States, measures that using a dishwasher could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 72% compared with handwashing. By now, you’ll have realized that there are many benefits to using a dishwasher.
So what does all of this mean exactly?
Well, it means that compared to handwashing, using a dishwasher is better.
So the answer to the question “Are dishwashers bad for the environment?” is no. Dishwashers aren’t bad for the environment and you can have one in your eco kitchen without having to feel bad.
It’s a no-brainer, using a dishwasher uses less water and energy than handwashing. Throw in a natural dishwasher detergent and Voilà! You are now doing your part to help the environment simply by washing up. Go you!
