Tougher new rules have slashed the energy and water dishwashers can use to get the government’s Energy Star seal.

Dishwashers built since January must use about 9 percent less electricity and 27 percent less water to meet the federal EPA’s voluntary Energy Star standard. Cycle times even for energy-efficient models can be long. A unit needs time to recirculate the small amounts of water it uses to clean items while meeting federal standards for energy and water efficiency.