Boiling a kettle

stamford

What is the cheapest in terms of energy costs - bioling an electric kettle or using an old fashioned electric one on the gas hob ? Assume two mugs of water as the contents

happyhero

generally doing anything that envolves heating, is cheaper with gas than doing it with electric, hence most people get gas central heating rather than electric heating. To heat your whole house electricaly would really cost you.

espresso

Gas is about a quarter of the cost of electricy per kWh. Think that this has previously been discussed in the Utilities Gas Elect forum.

quoia

stamford wrote:

..... or using an old fashioned electric one on the gas hob .............

Personally I don't you'll get anywhere using an electric one on a gas hob !

Weymouth_Man

quoia wrote:

Personally I don't you'll get anywhere using an electric one on a gas hob !

I find the plastic handles melt on electric kettles when put on gas hobs :eek:

Sorry the answer is electric

mistyarthur

I would have thought that the electric was more efficient because there is less energy wasted through light and it all goes straight to heating the water whereas the gas one means that some is lost before it gets to the kettle and even then it has to heat the big chunk of metal on the base.

Barter

You could try putting the same amount of water in each kind of kettle, turn off all other energy use, & read the respective meters before & after boiling it up; then you'd see!

Smiley_Mum

Just boiled half a litre of water in a fastboil kettle and the wattage varied from between 2981 at lowest and around 3053 watts, took just over a minute and used 0.06 of a kwh. Kettle is a Breville Montana, 3kw.

malcolmwilliamson

From 'Saving Electricity' website http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cooking.html
on the cheapest ways to heat water:

Gas is the cheapest, even though it's inefficient, because the cost of gas is so low.
Electric kettles are the next best option. Microwave ovens are almost as good.
Heating water in a microwave is cheaper if you heat only a cup in the microwave, vs. a whole kettle on the stove.

The author concludes:
Remember, this is all academic, because the difference between the most expensive method and the least expensive method are not that much.

mistyarthur

Energy Efficiency

The website above tell you to heat water in an electric kettle not on the stove!!!! The other site was American which may have made a difference or it may be that it is more energy efficient to heat with electricity than gas but not cheaper, if there is a difference.

malcolmwilliamson

The following quote is from a recent (2004) guide to 'Energy Efficiency in the Home' by the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE).

The IEE is the professional body of electrical, electronic, manufacturing and systems engineering personnel and is the highest authority on things electrical in the UK .

Gas Hobs
Gas hobs are available with ratings typically between 1 kW and 3 kW with an
efficiency of heat transfer to the pan in the region of 30 – 35%. Because of
the energy conversion losses experienced in the generation of electricity, the
overall efficiencies of gas and electric hobs are similar. The choice between the use of gas or electricity for cooking is frequently made on the basis of
personal preference rather than efficiency, environment or cost
considerations.

The whole guide is well worth a read if you are seeking to conserve energy in your home and hence save money on your utility bills.It covers all home electrical appliances and gives advice for all of them as well as tips on home insulation. The paper can be found here: http://www.iee.org/Policy/Areas/EnvEnergy/saveitnew.pdf