Homeowners can make hand washing in the kitchen sink just as - if not more - efficient as using a dishwasher, it has been claimed.Allecia Vermillion of GateHouse News Service noted that as dishwashers have become more and more efficient, it is now conventional wisdom that washing dishes by hand uses more water and energy than loading up a dishwasher.However, she argued that this efficiency equation is dependent on a dishwashers size and age, with many older models using much more water than newer, efficiency-certified ones.Ms Vermillion therefore suggested that hand washing can feasibly be more efficient than using a dishwasher, provided a number of water-saving tips are heeded.These including scraping, rather than rinsing, all excess food from plates prior to washing as well as washing at a good pace to avoid running hot water unnecessarily.The guidance comes after CNET News reported recently that computer chip giant Intel is developing a new device that could bring home energy-management technology to the kitchen.