Eco Kettle/ Toasters

hairdye

Hi All

First time posting in this board so I hope I am in the rihgt place!

I am moving house soon from rented to my own house. I am going to need to get a kettle and a toaster, and I want to get energy efficient ones, BUT I dont want to spend a fortune!

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks

Ben84

Neither of these items are big energy users in the average house, so the most environmentally sound and money saving options may just be to buy ones that are well made and will last a long time.

The eco-kettles use the same energy per litre of water boiled as any other kettle, but they apparently make it easier to measure the water. Generally they're an expensive way to measure water. Why not buy a normal kettle with external indicator, fill your kettle with a cup at a time (adding a little for evaporation) and mark the level with a pen. If you get one with a flat element you can normally boil as little as one cup.

I've never actually had a toaster, I just use the grill. I figured that the £30 or so one costs is a lot of gas, probably enough to make toast for years and years. I'm not sure about energy efficiency, but it does entirely avoid the energy costs of making, packaging and transporting a toaster, so may not be so bad in the end. Still, automatic toasters are convenient, and some claim to use less energy. I've seen one that allows you to use both slots independently, saving energy if you're making just one slice.

Two things I would buy again, which I bought when I got my first house are energy saving light bulbs, and an electric blanket. You might wonder why a heating device is going to save money or help the environment, but mine uses maximum 60 watt and means I can turn the central heating down low overnight in the winter. With the central heating pump using more than 60 watt, and the 14 kW gas burner, it's a huge energy saving.

hairdye

Thanks Ben, I didnt realise they didnt use less energy! Will do a bit of research and get one I think will last, although I have to be honest up until now I have never had an expensive kettle and they never seem to break or anything! As for the toaster, a four slice one is what I am after sow ill look for one with different slot controllers!

Great idea on the energy saving light bulbs, will sort that as soon as we move too.

Thanks

savemoney

There is no such thing as energy saving kettle. Only way to save some energy is boil less water

I think this applies to toasters too they all use similar amount of power

Dont waste your money on so called enegry saving kettles its a gimmick all you need is a kettle that shows how much water is in it, usually via a small window on side.

moonrakerz

hairdye wrote: »

Hi All

I am going to need to get a kettle and a toaster................... BUT I dont want to spend a fortune!

Anyone got any suggestions?

Go to Argos and buy a Cookworks kettle at £6.49, pay the extra £1.99 for 3 year cover and you have a kettle with a 3 year warranty for £8.48 - bargain !
There is a toaster for £5.79 - do the same there.

If either of these items do go wrong they will just replace them not bother to repair them.

Gloomendoom

If you want an energy efficient toaster, try a classic Dualit. They are expensive, even second hand, but they are rebuildable when they wear out and parts are easily available. You may save money in the long term.

As a bonus they look cool too.

moonrakerz

hairdye wrote: »

BUT I dont want to spend a fortune!

Gloomendoom wrote: »

try a classic Dualit. They are expensive, You may save money in the long term.

In the VERY, VERY, VERY long term !!!!!

http://www.webelectricals.co.uk/eStore/Product.asp?ProdUID=%7BCF12109A-3F4B-4904-AF19-FF9501B6E43F%7D&AUID=%7B3163163A-0815-4D7C-AA44-ACB70A7F517F%7D


Gordon Bennett !!

collingbone614

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If you want an energy efficient toaster, try a classic Dualit. They are expensive, even second hand, but they are rebuildable when they wear out and parts are easily available. You may save money in the long term.

As a bonus they look cool too.

I got a moderately used dualit for £15 a car boot! It's a basic model but appears to be built like a tank and has been going strong for two years thus far.

savemoney

I dont dispute dualits are good but far to expensive for what most people uses

Kettles/toaster all consume similar amount of energy anyway only difference with a kettle is more water, takes longer to boil uses more energy its that simple

System

Ben84 wrote: »

Neither of these items are big energy users in the average house, so the most environmentally sound and money saving options may just be to buy ones that are well made and will last a long time.
.

a kettle does use a lot of electricty, ive just fitted my free npower monitor and its been a revealtion , we have bought one of those thermos flasks with a button on top ,i boil the kettle once a day fill it and the water [whats left ]is hot enough to wash dishes before bed.

Ben84

CHRISSYG wrote: »

a kettle does use a lot of electricty, ive just fitted my free npower monitor and its been a revealtion , we have bought one of those thermos flasks with a button on top ,i boil the kettle once a day fill it and the water [whats left ]is hot enough to wash dishes before bed.

Kettles do have fairly high kW ratings, but they only get used for a few minutes at a time to make tea and coffee several times a day. When you compare their energy use to space heating and hot water for baths/showers, cleaning and washing clothes, plus the energy used by cookers, the kettle is a very small faction of a typical household's total energy use.