When it comes to purchasing a new dishwasher there are many different features and benefits to consider when comparing different models.
One attribute that is easily compared, yet often under-estimated, is energy efficiency. Not only is an energy efficiency rating great for seeing which dishwashers are kinder to the environment, but it can also save you money over the long term. In fact, choosing a four-star rated dishwasher over a two star counterpart can save you as much as $30 a year on your power bill.
What are Energy Ratings?
Most electrical and gas appliances sold in Australia will display an energy rating sticker. This sticker tells a consumer at a glance the energy efficiency of that particular appliance compared to others in its product category.
Energy ratings display two types of information, a star rating between zero and six, as well as the number of kilowatts of electricity the appliance uses during a year.
The Star Rating
The star rating is a great (and super quick) way to see at a glance how an appliance compares to other offerings in the market. Star ratings are rated by Australian Standards and, generally, the higher the star rating the more energy efficient a dishwasher is.
Kilowatts Per Year
Just below the star ratings on an energy rating sticker is the number of kilowatts of energy the appliance uses in a year. The lower this number compared to other models, the less energy the appliances uses, and the cheaper it will be to run.
To make comparisons between different models and brands even easier, you can visit sites such as energyrating.gov.au, where the energy efficiency and running cost of all appliances is searchable. This tool will help you to easily shortlist dishwashers by either their energy efficiency or yearly running costs – before your even set foot in a showroom.
Comparing Different Brands of Dishwashers
When it comes to comparing different brands of dishwashers on their energy efficiency, few can compare with German engineering company Bosch. With a focus on green technology and energy efficiency in their dishwasher range, Bosch is proud of being a socially responsible company.
It’s not surprising then that Bosch’s four and a half star rated SMS69T28AU and SMU69U85AU models are the most efficient dishwashers currently available on the market. In addition to this, Bosch has a further fourteen models with four star ratings.
As the most energy efficient models, the SMS69T28AU and SMU69U85AU dishwashers are also the cheapest to run. Over a ten year period it would cost an estimated $305 dollars to run each model.
Swiss appliance manufacturer V-ZUG also have a number of four star rated offerings costing $309 for the same ten year period. The V-ZUG models use an estimate 209 kilowatts of electricity compared to 206 kilowatts used by the four and a half star Bosch models.
Like V-ZUG, LG also have a number of different four star models currently available, each costing an estimated $340 to operate over ten years and using 230 kilowatts of electricity.
To show how much of a difference the energy rating of a dishwasher can make, compare these highly energy efficient models to offerings with less energy efficiency stars.
Hoover’s range of two and a half star models would cost an estimated $617 to run over a ten year period, more than double that of the Bosch models. It’s easy to see that while a dishwasher may be initially cheaper to purchase, it is important to weigh up the ongoing cost in any purchase decision.
If you would like help in selecting and installing your new dishwasher call JEDI Plumbing on 0411 774 381. Servicing Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches we can help you not only save money, but also help do your part to save the environment with energy efficient appliances.