For Consumers
Dishwashers
Dishwashers
Dishwashers have become a modern convenience that many households cannot live without. They can save time, but also consume electricity and water, adding to household bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
Choosing your dishwasher carefully and using it wisely will help you reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint.
Household dishwashers are covered by mandatory energy efficiency requirements.
- Dishwashers are required to carry an Energy Rating Label.
- Dishwashers do not need to meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards.
The Energy Rating Label
The more stars, the more savings.
The Energy Rating Label helps you make informed choices when buying a dishwasher. It provides two important pieces of information about the appliance, the:
- star rating
- estimated energy consumption.
The star rating shows the energy efficiency of an appliance. It allows you to compare the energy efficiency of products that have similar capacity and features. The more stars, the less energy it uses and the cheaper it is to run.
The energy consumption is how much electricity the appliance is estimated to use in a year. This can help you predict the running costs.
Learn more about reading the label and estimating running costs
Visit Understand the Energy Rating LabelHow to choose the right dishwasher for you
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Start with size
When purchasing a dishwasher, the first step is to determine the size that will best meet your needs.
Size is the first important consideration in choosing a dishwasher. The dishwasher needs to fit into the space you have available, while still leaving enough room for you to stand and stack it with the door open.
The capacity must also meet your needs, with larger families or regular entertainers needing more space, and couples or singles usually better suited to smaller appliances. Remember that buying bigger is not always better. Larger machines usually use more electricity and more water, which means they will cost you more money in the long run.
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Use the star rating to compare energy efficiency
It is important to compare products of the same capacity.
Once you have decided on the best sized dishwasher, you can use the star ratings on the Energy Rating Label to compare the energy efficiency of similar sized appliances.
This is because the star rating takes into account the capacity of the appliance. For example, a dishwasher that holds ten place settings and has a five star energy rating will use more energy than a five star dishwasher that holds six place settings.
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Seek professional advice
Experts can help you make the right choice.
As with any large purchase, it’s a good idea to discuss your options with a number of suppliers or installers so they can advise on the dishwasher that may be right for you. They will also be able to advise on running costs and placement of the appliance to improve its energy efficiency.
Water Rating Label
Dishwashers must also display a Water Rating Label, under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme.
The scheme was established in 2005 to encourage more efficient domestic water use and reduce demand for drinking water in Australia by informing consumers about water efficiency. It regulates taps, showers, toilets, urinals, flow controllers, dishwashers and washing machines.
Visit the Water Rating site for more information
Additional resources
Visit Your Home which provides information on designing new homes and home improvements. There is a dedicated Reducing water use section, that provides information about dishwashers and more.
Want to save on dishwasher running costs?
View our tips for using dishwashers efficiently