Washing dishes at the sink can be a Zen-like ritual–or at least a way to get your hands warm and your fingernails clean. But automatic dishwashers have their benefits, too, and not just for the busy and the lazy. Used wisely, modern automatics consume less water and energy than washing dishes by hand.
Today’s best energy-efficient dishwashers have soil sensors that automatically adjust power and water use based on how yucky your dishes are.