Carbon Saved by Turning Down Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers use a vast amount of their energy - around 80% - just to heat water.
Turning down the temperature to 50°C or 55°C can save on energy consumption by 25%.
Calculating CO2 saved by turning down your dishwasher temperature:
Energy of 65° cycle = 1.44 kWh
Energy of 55° cycle = 1.07 kWh
Using our grid electricity carbon conversion factor of 0.527 kg CO2 emitted per kWh:
Energy of 65° cycle = 1.44 x 0.527 = 0.76 kg CO2
Energy of 55° cycle = 1.07 x 0.527 = 0.56 kg CO2
So CO2 saved by turning to 55°C = 0.76 - 0.56 = 0.20 kg CO2 per load
At 1 load per day, therefore 28 per month or 336 per year, this would result in a saving of 67.2 kg per year.
Studies have shown that dishwashers can be many more times efficient than people in both water and energy usage. A study by the University of Bonn
compared the performance of dishwashers with 113 people washing up manually, taken from 7 different countries across Europe. Washing practices varied widely, but the average water consumption was 103 litres, and average energy use was 2.5 kWh. This compared with 15 litres of water and between 1 and 2 kWh of energy used by the dishwashers. Dishwashers are also better at cleaning and sanitising dishes
; the water however needs to be hot enough to kill bacteria, and so switching to lower than 50C is not recommended.
Environmentally-friendly dishwasher detergents
Dishwasher detergents contain phosphates which end up being washed into seas, rivers, lakes and waterways.
These have a detrimental effect on the environment, encouraging the spread of algae which absorbs the oxygen in the water, effectively suffocating fish and other wildlife which depend upon the water for survival.
Blue-green algae also contains a toxin called microcystin
, and contact can cause reactions such as skin irritation, abdominal cramps and vomiting. During algal blooms many waterways can be closed to swimming, boating and other activities. The amount of phosphates that can be present in detergents is at present unregulated; switching to an environmentally-friendly alternative will help clean up our seas and rivers.
Ecover (UK)
http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Dishes/20050711+vaatwastabs+UK.htm
The Green Shop (UK)
http://www.greenshop.co.uk
Seventh Generation (US)
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/our_products/dishwashing.php
Ecoshop (Australia)
http://www.ecoshop.com.au/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=77
The Natural Paint Place (Australia)
http://www.energyandwatersolutions.com.au/cleaning/cleaning.htm
Nature Clean Living (Canada)
http://www.naturecleanliving.com/auto_dish_powder.htm
Making your own home-made dishwasher detergent
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/ethicalliving/story/0,,2177550,00.html
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/natural-dishwasher-powder
Other Information
List of dishwashers with energy consumption, water usage and carbon emission figures:
http://www.sust-it.net/results.php?id=19
Dishwashers ranked by water-efficiency
http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/ranking_of_dishwashers.html
Tips to getting the most from your dishwasher
http://www.dishwasher-care.org.uk
