Hotpoint

Greener & Cheaper

You'd be forgiven for thinking that washing up by hand is the environmentally friendly option. But scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have found that the latest dishwashers use up to half the energy and one-fifth of the water of hand-washing an identical set of dirty dishes. A recent BBC OneShow investigation also demonstrated that using a sink is the wasteful way of wash up.

Even the most sparing hand washers can't beat the modern dishwasher. The study also found that dishwashers excelled in cleanliness over hand washing. And of course, you're saving money as well as time, because less water requires less energy for heating.

With some Hotpoint dishwashers using as little as 10 litres to wash a 14 place setting dinner service, it's no surprise they have up to an A+ energy efficiency rating.

Follow these simple rules with your Hotpoint dishwasher to make sure youre not wasting resources and money:

• Fully load the dishwasher, leaving room for water/air to circulate
• Use the Eco Wash cycle, designed to use minimal energy consumption but still maintain the great cleaning you'd expect from a Hotpoint.

Why are dishwashers becoming the greener option?

Most dishwashers manufactured since 1994 use less water per cycle than the equivalent required to wash up, because they recycle the water throughout the wash. Newer models heat only the amount of water they need - and being cold fill, the water is heated in the dishwasher itself, not in the household's hot water tank or central heating system, where heat gets lost in transit. A standard 60cm wide household dishwasher is designed to hold 12 or 14 place settings, while Hotpoint's slim-line models, at just 45cm wide, will wash 10 place settings, using less water in the process and boasting an A energy rating.