Dishwasher vs. Washing By Hand

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

Did you know...?

• Washing dishes with a dishwasher is more efficient than washing them by hand, and an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher is even more efficient.
• Compared with washing dishes by hand, you can save 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of your time annually by using an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher.

You can see the lifetime saving of an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher by using the calculation tool at the ENERGY STAR website .

Click here to download the Florida Energy Systems Consortium fact sheet (pdf).

De-coding the Laundry Factor!

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

When choosing a clothes washing machine, you need to know just how much energy it uses per cycle. Clothes washer energy consumption is measured in two ways.

• MEF (Modified Energy Factor) measures the energy used during the washing process, including washing machine energy consumption per cycle, hot water energy consumption, and dryer energy required for the removal of the remaining moisture in the wash load—the higher the MEF, the more energy efficient the clothes washer.
• WF (Water Factor) measures the gallons of water used per cycle per cubic foot. The lower the WF, the less water the machine uses. As of 2011, ENERGY STAR® qualified washing machines are 59% more efficient than mandated energy standards (U.S. Department of Energy, March 2008).

Clothes dryers are measured by EF (Energy Factor); the number of pounds of clothing a dryer can dry with 1 kilowatt-hour of usage.

See the ENERGY STAR® Web site for a listing of ENERGY STAR® qualified clothes washers and more details on Modified Energy Factors and Water Factors, along with other information that is useful in sorting out your options. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy requires the industry to thoroughly test and report the energy usage of all appliances.

To learn more about an Energy Efficient Laundry Area, click here to download this pdf fact sheet from the University of Florida / IFAS.

Pinellas County Extension Launches New Energy Conservation Web Pages

By: James Stevenson, Extension Specialist

Pinellas County Extension has just launched an interactive energy conservation web page for our citizens. There you will find information on how to make the best choices to improve your home’s energy efficiency, reduce your power bill and help protect the environment without sacrificing your comfort or lifestyle.

Get started by using interactive EnergyStar® calculators, including a customized EnergyStar® Home Advisor. Then explore the many University of Florida fact sheets on a range of topics. Looking for a new water heater? Want to make the most of your A/C dollars? Want to learn some easy and inexpensive ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency? Use these resources to help you make the best decisions.

Finally, take part in Pinellas County Extension’s new Energy Efficiency Project and receive energy-saving materials that can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your energy costs. The Power is Yours; you CAN make a difference!