Energy bills are absolutely skyrocketing. We’re seeing huge chunks of our income being used on energy bills, and it will only get worse over the next few months. As winter approaches, the expected price cap is going to push a lot of people into the situation of fuel poverty. Not being able to pay to heat our homes or even cook our food is a terrible prospect to be facing. As we all search for ways to conserve energy and save money on our household bills, how much electricity does a kettle use? How much does that cup of tea or mug of coffee actually cost you on top of the price of the ingredients? Let’s have a look.
Energy Efficient Kettles
Some older kettles use more energy than modern versions. There are lists of the most energy-efficient kettles online, however many of these come with higher price tags. Most of us have a standard electric kettle, fairly basic, usually from a supermarket or a store like Argos. Whilst there are different makes and models, most of them use similar amounts of energy to operate.
With 165 million cups of tea enjoyed every day in the UK, that’s a lot of energy to pay for. We may not drink as many hot drinks in the summer months but as winter approaches, that kettle might be on a lot more frequently.
How Much Electricity Does A Kettle Use?
It’s evident that kettles use a lot of energy. Heating water up rapidly takes a lot of electricity. With that comes cost. The minimum amount of energy consumed is around 1.2kWh. Most kettles have a maximum power rating of 3kWh. Whilst you won’t be boiling a kettle continuously for a full sixty minutes, on average you’re looking at around four minutes.
Let’s say that amount of time uses 0.225kWh. If your average unit of electricity is 28p, the cost to boil a full 2-litre kettle is around 6p. Half a kettle would be 3p and the amount of water for two cups would be around 1.5pence. Consider boiling half a kettle six times a day. That is at least 18p a day. That’s more than £5 over a month, or £60 a year.
How much electricity does a kettle use? There are variables that can sway how much you spend boiling your kettle. Different kettles might use more energy, you might pay more for your electricity. In the winter, you might use it more often for hot water bottles and boiling water is a huge help when cleaning stains around the house. Think about how often you flick the button on the kettle and how much money that is costing you every time.
How Much Electricity Does A Treadmill Use UK?
How To Save Money Boiling The Kettle
Some people are starting to boil their kettle just once a day. They use the water in a cup for a brew and then pour the rest into a Thermos flask to keep it warm. This can then be used throughout the day for more warm drinks without having to reboil the kettle.
Only boil the kettle if you need to. With the amount of water that you need there and then. Otherwise, you are boiling water which is then going to stay in the kettle and cool down again. That is simply wasted energy and money for you. It is so easy in our busy lives to just turn the tap on and fill up the kettle to a random mark, or get distracted and forget that you’ve boiled the kettle. Then having to return to it after fifteen minutes to boil it again. When you boil your kettle, stay nearby and make the most of the water you heat up.
When was the last time you descaled your kettle? Limescale around the elements makes them underperform so it takes more energy to boil your water. Simply use white vinegar or citric acid to descale your kitchen kettle.
How about going to a friend’s house for a coffee rather than them coming to you all the time? You can still enjoy a brew and a chat but they can use their electricity instead of you!
A Brew & A Biscuit Final Thoughts
The question was how much electricity does a kettle use and we’ve given a ballpark answer. Perhaps you’ve been considering cutting back on your caffeine consumption? Swap out a brew for a glass of water and you’ll not only be sticking to your plan, but you’ll also be saving money and energy. Continue to enjoy your hot drinks but it might be time to start watching how many you consume every day. Boiling that kettle costs money. Make sure only fill it with the amount of water you need and are only using it when you need to.
