One of the big questions facing those of us who are trying to conserve water, is whether to wash dishes by hand or use the dishwasher. In most cases, the dishwasher uses less water, but for those folks who are still concerned, Hwang Jin Wook’s modern dishwasher prototype should intrigue you.

Hwang Jin Wook’s modern dishwasher concept developed for Electrolux uses air to clean the dishes by blowing away food bits. High-pressure air is used to clean the dishes. Steam is used to degrease the dishes and Ultraviolet rays are used to sterilize the dishes. Very little water is used to create steam but the water is recycled so essential water is never wasted.

It sounds like a great idea, but there is a small problem – the dishwasher cleans only two dishes at a time. This is a problem for most of us since a meal usually involves at least a pot or two and some utensils. Although now the unit is designed with single, young users in mind, expanding it to include family use will have a much greater impact on water conservation.

This is a great idea, can it be refined for mainstream use? We’ll wait and see.

You can read more here.