Greenest way to boil water?

welf_man

I have a gas multipoint heater for water and CH, and a gas hob.

Does anyone know which of these uses less gas:

- run the hot tap until the water s at maximum heat, then bring to boil o the hob

- heat the water from cold on the hob?

I know the cost differential will be minimal, but am more concerned about using the least aount of gas for resource reasons.

Thanks,

Mel.

davetrousers

I boil water in the kettle (electric) before pouring it into a saucepan.

moonrakerz

welf_man wrote: »

- run the hot tap until the water s at maximum heat, then bring to boil o the hob

- heat the water from cold on the hob?

I think I would be more concerned about the water I was wasting and the gas wasted (on the water going down the plug hole) to get the water to max heat.

davetrousers does what I do.

ryandj

I have a feeling that the water from the hot tap is not ideal for drinking/ cooking with?

I use an energy efficient kettle for tea/coffee but prefer to boil in a pan for cooking.

It all depends on the energy efficiency of your boiler, you hob, the temperature of the water, how much lime scale in your area... well maybe not the last two...

geordie_joe

moonrakerz wrote: »

I think I would be more concerned about the water I was wasting and the gas wasted (on the water going down the plug hole) to get the water to max heat.

davetrousers does what I do.

In my old flat I had one of them boilers that heated the water as you used it. Within 2 seconds of turning the hot tap on the water was scalding hot. I loved it.

My new house has one of them too but it is rubbish. Turn the tap on and you have to wait five minutes for the water to heat up, and it never gets really hot. It also runs hot for about two minutes then runs cold for a minute then hot again for two minutes.

These "instant" boilers are very good, when they work, but get a duff one and they are worse than useless.

Ken68

Electric kettle, already filled from the last use, so therefore pre-warmed.Make the tea and the residue is then put into a flask. Refill with fresh water from a jug to whatever level, then put over it a kettle cosy.
Then place over a hole drilled into the radiator shelf.Ditto the teapot.
Like you say, Welf, miniscule savings but done several times a day, every day, laughing all the way to the bank. :-))

Ben84

I've always used cold tap water and bought it to the boil on the gas cooker. Not sure if this is more efficient, but I do know that it's best to use a pan with a large base that fully covers the burner flame. It also avoids damaging the pan handle.

I'm know some heat is lost to the surrounding air, but at this time of year waste heat from cooking is welcome in the house so it is not entirely wasted. The boiler also loses heat up the chimney, and some is lost in the pipes too. There might not be any savings from using the hot tap.

I could boil the water in the electric kettle, but then electric is significantly more expensive, and it's made from coal which causes more pollution than natural gas. Electric also loses a lot of energy in transmission, up to 60% between the power plant and your socket, so I suspect that the losses from the gas burner directly below your pan are less.

Ken68

If you draw water off into a jug, whether filtered or not, the chlorine will have a chance to clear off,then let it stand and it won't be so cold to heat up.

ryandj

Ken68 wrote: »

If you draw water off into a jug, whether filtered or not, the chlorine will have a chance to clear off,then let it stand and it won't be so cold to heat up.

As someone of a scientific background, I am interested to know how exactly the chloring would 'clear off'?

frivolous_fay

Ken68 wrote: »

Electric kettle, already filled from the last use, so therefore pre-warmed.

Obviously a joke post - why go to all that trouble when you've already boiled the water twice

lemontart

so which is the cheapest way to boil water - gas? electric kettle or microwave?