Energy efficiency ... Dishwashers ... Small appliances

Use energy-efficient settings on dishwashers. Use the water-miser and heat-free dryer settings on your dishwasher to help save energy.

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Buy the proper-sized dishwasher. Small households that don't use many dishes can cut energy use with drawer-sized dishwashers. If you create a lot of dirty dishes, one big model is best.

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Cook with smaller appliances. Save energy by using smaller appliances whenever possible, such as heating items in the microwave rather than the full-size oven. Additionally, less heat is produced in the kitchen, which helps take the strain off the air conditioner.