Green Dishwashing
Kitchen Habits that Lessen Environmental Impact of Dishwashing
Nov 15, 2009 Cecille de la Cruz
The accrued amount of water, energy, and chemicals spent on dishwashing year after year have an irreversible, disastrous impact on the planet. Here are green dishwashing tips on how to prevent putting more drain-strain on the environment.
Upgrade to a Current Model
Modern dishwashers are more energy-efficient than older models. Many come with energy-saving options such as delay wash timer, which allows the user to avoid using electricity during peak hours. By getting a dishwasher with an Energy Star rating, households will earn an annual savings of $25 on electricity plus a thousand gallons of water compared to the standard dishwasher.
If buying a new dishwasher is not yet in the budget, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy recommends assigning smaller jobs to hand washing and saving the dishwasher for bigger stacks of dishes. When washing by hand, don't leave the tap running and fill the sink with as little water for rinsing.
Dishwasher Size Matters
There are two types of dishwashers based on capacity: compact and standard. When choosing a size model, base it on your family's usage patterns and number of members in the family. If you have a small family or you are living alone, a compact dishwasher is just right. Compact models require less energy to operate than standard dishwashers, but if you run it too frequently, you end up spending more energy and water.
Scrape the Foods, Skip the Pre-rinse
If the dishwasher has a pre-rinse option, set the machine to skip this step. Most dishwashers today are designed to effectively remove all the grubs; pre-rinsing is simply a waste of water and power. Make sure, however, to scrape the food particles to avoid stressing the dishwasher.
Fully Load the Dishwasher
To optimize use of water, energy, time, and detergent with each use, see to it that the dishwasher has a full load before running the machine.
Lower the Heat
If the dishwasher comes with a booster heater, lower the thermostat of the water tank to 120 degrees. Households don't need the extra heat since your washer is designed to automatically heat the water from the home tank.
Keep it Far From Other Appliances
The heat radiating from a dishwasher can affect the performance of appliances close to it. One's fridge , for instance, will have to work harder every time the dishwasher is in use.
Use Green Detergent
Detergents contain environmentally harmful ingredients like phosphates and petroleum. Instead, use a dish wash that contains eco-friendly, biodegradable ingredients. To find the best green dishwashing detergent for your needs, check the reviews at consumersearch.com.
Allow Dishes to Air dry
Instead of using the heat-drying cycle of the dishwasher or a fan, just leave the door of the kitchen open at the end of the wash cycle to let the dishes air dry. If washed in the evening, the dishes will be ready for use for breakfast.
Dishwashers have joined the Going Green drive of this generation. Couple your eco-friendly machine with equally eco-friendly kitchen habits, and you'll end up saving gallons of water, thousands of watts on electricity, and hundreds of dollars
Green Dishwashing
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