I'm looking for a new dishwasher that is energy efficient, reliable & quiet. What's the best one out there?

Did you know that you can expect to keep your new dishwasher for 11 years? That's a lot of washing cycles and hot water, Today's dishwashers need water hot enough to melt dishwasher soap and clean greasy dishes - at least 140 degrees. By purchasing a dishwasher with a booster heater, you can set your home's water heater at 120 degrees, and still allow your dishwasher to operate correctly.
As much as 80 percent of the energy your dishwasher uses goes to heat water. Remember-by saving water, you're also saving the energy used to pump it, treat it, heat it in your home, and clean it up afterwards in your city's waste water facility. Up to 50 percent of a typical city's energy bill goes to supplying water and cleaning it after use!

Sensor washing can help save water and reduce the length of a wash cycle. This feature works by measuring the turbidity (cloudiness) of the water and using the information to determine whether additional rinse cycles can be skipped. This feature is becoming more commonplace, even on budget models.

The lower the decibel level, the quieter the machine. Budget dishwashers may crank out levels as high as 60 decibels or above, while high-end dishwashers are comparatively quiet at 45 decibels. The $1,550 Bosch SHX98M09UC measures a noise level of only 42 decibels.

From Consumer research: Kenmore Best-value dishwasher

pros

    * Excellent cleaning ability
    * Fairly quiet
    * Price
    * Efficient

cons

    * Fewer features than competing models
    * Plastic tub


Best basic dishwasher-Whirlpool DU1055xtvq
pros

    * Good cleaning ability
    * Energy Star-rated
    * Inexpensive

cons

    * Not as quiet as some models
    * Bulky controls
    * No stainless-steel option