How do you save energy with a dishwasher?

- Avoid pre-rinsing. Pre-rinsing dishes can waste up to 20 gallons of water per load. Instead, scrape off any food scraps and put the dishes in the dishwasher without rinsing them.

- Skip the heat dry setting. The heat dry setting can use a significant amount of energy. If possible, skip the heat dry setting and let the dishes air dry.

- Use a low-temperature setting. Most dishwashers have a low-temperature setting that can save energy. Use the low-temperature setting for dishes that are not heavily soiled.

- Only run the dishwasher when it's full. Running a dishwasher with only a few dishes can waste energy. Wait until you have a full load of dishes before running the dishwasher.

- Use the right amount of detergent. Using too much detergent can waste energy and can leave a film on your dishes. Use the amount of detergent recommended by the manufacturer of your dishwasher.

- Keep your dishwasher clean. A dirty dishwasher can use more energy than a clean dishwasher. Clean the filter and the spray arms of your dishwasher regularly to keep it running efficiently.