Money/energy-saving Kettles/toasters?

[Deleted User]

I'm in a mood for asking questions today:D

After playing with our new electricity monitor, (What a way to focus the mind!) has anyone had experience of great energy and money-saving small appliances like Kettles or toasters?

Thanks in advance :beer:

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, I have the Philips Energy Efficient eco kettle HD4644. I bought it from Amizon as that was the cheepest place I could find. It is a white plastic kettle. I have told all the family to only put the water in that they are going to use. I find though when I go to make a coffee that there is still enough water in the kettle for me.

I think an energy monitor will be quite a knowledge finder for cutting back on electric, I have just ordered one. How are you getting on with it?

[Deleted User]

julie_d wrote: »

Hiya, I have the Philips Energy Efficient eco kettle HD4644. I bought it from Amizon as that was the cheepest place I could find. It is a white plastic kettle. I have told all the family to only put the water in that they are going to use. I find though when I go to make a coffee that there is still enough water in the kettle for me.

I think an energy monitor will be quite a knowledge finder for cutting back on electric, I have just ordered one. How are you getting on with it?

Thanks. I'll look that model up.
The monitor is much more useful than you first imagine. You clip it on to your electric meter outside, and there's a little screen to place inside. Ours is in a prominent position in the sitting room. It's very easy to use. As you see it surging or ebbing, you get a really good idea of what's taking the energy and small changes make a difference if they become habits. For instance you can see moment by moment how the vacuum, oven, kettle and toaster take loads of energy. I now plan my vacuuming instead of leaving it on while I shuffle furniture about:rotfl:, I'm planning to do more sweeping of the kitchen floor instead; We microwaved our chicken for 12 mins before roasting (it turned out beautifully) and cut oven time by loads, and I am now much more careful to boil only the water I need, or to store any excess in a small flask (and remember to use it!) I used to leave my computer on all day and just switch off at night. Now I turn it off if I'm not using it for an hours or so.
Gosh, I have rambled on:o... but you did ask

Hope you enjoy your new monitor too

[Deleted User]

closed wrote: »

Just use a normal kettle, but boil what you need.

I already do that, but I wondered if there was a new gizmo type thingy that was even better on energy saving

Penelope_Penguin

budgeteer wrote: »

I already do that, but I wondered if there was a new gizmo type thingy that was even better on energy saving

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll move it to the G&E board where you'll get more help

tori.k

We have an eco kettle and i love it, for just DH and I it would be a waste of money, but my teenages couldnt seem to grasp the idea of just putting the water you need into the kettle and its taken the hard work out of that for them.

Cardew

All of these things are just gimmicks and not worth spending any extra to get.

All kettles for instance are as efficient as each other. It cost EXACTLY the same to boil 1 or 2 cups of water in an Eco kettle as it does in any other kettle.

JennyR68

That's right, a higher wattage kettle uses no more power than a lower watt one. Just boils the water faster. The only way to reduce consumption is as said, only boil what you need. No need to buy a new kettle.

A_fiend_for_life

There's an eco kettle here:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Energy-Efficient-Eco-Kettle.htm

A reasonable article but still no detailed numbers compared to other kettles or even a £4 kettle and flask. Given the customer reviews I've seen I would certainly go for a flask and kettle that you probably already have.

An eco toaster here:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Energy-Efficient-Ecolectric-Toaster-Review.htm

This at least is a bit more detailed than the kettle article.

The standby bit is a bit of an oversight and I'm not sure if the Kill a Watt meter is the one they actually used nor what the minimum accurate reading is.

They certainly pay a lot for their electricity.

I would look for other buyer criticism before buying (see bottom of page).

No mention of spare parts that you used to get for old style kettles.

luce181

Cardew wrote: »

All of these things are just gimmicks and not worth spending any extra to get.

All kettles for instance are as efficient as each other. It cost EXACTLY the same to boil 1 or 2 cups of water in an Eco kettle as it does in any other kettle.

The point of the eco kettle is that it helps you to only boil the amount of water you need.

How many people would be bothered to measure out say 4 cups of water each time they were making tea, especially in an office or a house with lots of people.

With the eco kettle you can fill it to the top then choose how many cups you wish to boil, no more effort than switching the kettle on :

http://www.wikaniko.com/products/description.asp?no=77

Cardew

luce181 wrote: »

The point of the eco kettle is that it helps you to only boil the amount of water you need.

How many people would be bothered to measure out say 4 cups of water each time they were making tea, especially in an office or a house with lots of people.

With the eco kettle you can fill it to the top then choose how many cups you wish to boil, no more effort than switching the kettle on :

http://www.wikaniko.com/products/description.asp?no=77

Certainly few people 'measure out' x cups. However most kettles have a visual indicator of the water level, and I for one certainly know approx how much water I need for x cups.

So I might waste 0.01p each time I boil the kettle(although the 'huge' amount of wasted heat goes in the house!!). Take me a long while to recoup the £30 or so for the kettle!

If I stick the £30 in a building society I get £1.20 a year - enough for 10,000 extravagent boilings:cool: