Reduce Electric Kettle Energy Use & Cost in Easy Steps

Although there are no truly environmentally friendly electric kettles on the market, there are ways to reduce electric kettle running costs consumption while keeping your electricity bills low.

I’ve put together a list of seven simple ways to reduce electric kettle running costs of boiling your kettle.

7 Tips To Reduce Electric Kettle Running Costs of Boiling Water in a Kettle

1. Let’s start with the obvious: use your small electric kettle (or any kettle) less. This is the quickest and most efficient way to reduce your operating expenses. The use of your electric kettle is responsible for 80% of its environmental impact. Surprisingly, the manufacturing of electric kettles accounts for less than 4% of the total impact, while transportation accounts for 1%.
2. Boil only what you require. Fill your kettle only as much as you need it. The longer it takes for a kettle to boil, the more water you put in it. This leads to increased energy waste and higher energy bills. Boiling only what you require reduces the environmental impact of your kettle by about 1/3. If you only need to boil one cup of water, fill that cup halfway with water and pour it into the kettle to avoid waste.
3. Avoid using an electric stovetop or hob. Electric kettles have an insulated heating element that comes into closer contact with the water. As a result, they are more efficient, so boiling water will cost less than on an electric hob/stovetop. When used properly, hot plates or induction stovetops can be slightly more efficient than electric kettles.
4. Consider using gas. Gas hob stoves can bring water to a boil more cost effectively, even compared to electric kettles. This does, however, depend on the quality of kettles used, but given that gas prices in most countries are usually significantly lower than electricity, it could cost you less to boil water on a stove hob.
5. Keep your kettles running efficiently. Check for calcification on the heating element of your electric kettle and consider descaling. Check for buildup at the bottom of your stovetop kettle. Also, make sure your kettle’s lid is securely fastened to prevent too much heat from escaping.
6. Consider switching between energy providers. Typically, energy providers offer special deals to entice customers to switch. This is a great way to save money when it comes to boiling a kettle.
7. Finally, don’t heat the water any longer than is absolutely necessary. Temperature controls are available on modern electric kettles, such as this best seller. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be able to choose the best temperature for your brew. Controlling the water temperature can help you reduce your kettly’s environmental impact by 2%–5%.

Final Thoughts

Electric kettles are notorious for consuming a lot of energy. The cost of running them may or may not surprise you. However, if you use them as much as 40% of the UK does, you could be in for a brewing (kettle pun) storm. Running a kettle once may not seem like a big deal, but over the course of a two-month billing period, it can add up. so you need reduce electric kettle running costs if you don’t want to pay expensive.

Kettles, on the other hand, have a significant environmental impact as a whole. Electric kettles consume an estimated 19.5-33.3 TWh of electricity in the EU each year.

Overfilling kettles alone wastes GBP68 million in electricity and 3,525 tonnes of CO2 every day in the United Kingdom. Overfilling kettles wastes 1,286,625 tonnes of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to driving over 250,000 passenger vehicles for a year. To put it another way, removing this CO2 waste would take over 19,000,000 tree seedlings grown for ten years.

So, if not for your wallet, at least for the environment, think about the energy-saving tips listed above.

In comparison to the average power consumption of boiling a kettle, Dolce Gusto coffee machines use less than half the energy. But does this imply that they are more productive?

Jasper Scott

Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.