If your dishwasher has an air-dry setting, choose it instead of heat drying. You can cut your dishwasher’s energy usage by 40 percent. If your dishwasher does not have this setting, turn it off after its final rinse and let the dishes air dry. It takes more time but saves you electricity and money. Many new dishwashers do not require you to rinse the dishes before loading. However, if you prefer to pre-rinse, use cold water. Replacing your old dishwasher? Purchase an ENERGY STAR rated dishwasher and apply for a rebate from Anaheim Public Utilities. Avoid using the “rinse hold” setting on your dishwasher. This feature uses up to seven more gallons of hot water each use. Use short cycles in the dishwasher for everything but the dirtiest dishes. They use less energy and work just as well. Run your dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. Loading the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack dishes into the dishwasher for washing once a day will use about 17 gallons of hot water compared to the 10 gallons of hot water you’ll use washing the dishes by hand after each meal.