Only run your dishwasher when it is full to make the best use of water, energy and detergent.

Cut down on the amount of rinsing you do before loading the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, pots and pans all by themselves.

When purchasing a new appliance, look for one offering several different cycles. This will allow you to select more energy and water efficient cycles when heavy duty cleaning is not required.

Wait till you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.

When in the market for a new machine, consider a high efficiency model that will use an average of 30% less water and 40-50% less energy.

Insulate your hot water pipes and your electric water heater. Insulation will reduce the amount of time it takes for hot water to reach the tap, saving water and energy.

If in the market for a new water softener, consider one with a "hardness sensor" that will automatically trigger regeneration as needed. This type of softener will make the most efficient use of both water and salt.

Clothes washers can use as much as 30-35 gallons (114-133 liters) of water per cycle and dishwashers as much as 25 gallons (35 liters) per cycle.

A full dishwasher is more water efficient than washing the same load by hand.

Energy efficient appliances are usually water efficient too.