I love to read and I love to learn, which is why the few books I purchase (as compared to borrowing from the library or reading online) are books that teach me something and are often reference style material. On our annual trip to the beach this year I bought two books, one of which is the Handy Science Answer Book compiled by the Science and Technology Department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - third edition.

In it I found a great explanation to the often debated question; Is washing dishes by hand better for the environment than using automatic dishwasher?

No.

Dishwashers often save energy and water compared to hand washing. Depending on the brand, dishwashers typically consume 7.5 to 12 gallons (28 to 45 litres) of water per normal wash. Hand washing a day's worth of dishes may use up to 15 gallons (57 litres) of water. One university study found that the dishwashers consume about 37% less water than washing by hand. Also good to note; prewashing the dishes before loading generally wastes water since most machines can handle even heavily soiled plates.