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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters use an Eco Kettle to heat one cuppa tea instead of a regular kettle, we'll save enough energy to power 13 space heaters for a month.
COCKTAIL FACT
On Mt. Everest, water boils at 156 degrees F, versus 212 degrees at sea level, due to lower air pressure.
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home › tip library › Electric Kettles
What's the best kind of boiler room to hang out in?
The Bite
Whichever one has an electric kettle. These portable pots heat your H2O in less time using less energy, even in rooms full of high-pressure telemarketers.The Benefits
- Steaming-hot energy savings. Electric kettles use up to 50% less energy than stovetop kettles.
- Watched teapots that do boil. Electric kettles heat water almost twice as fast as regular ones.
- A healthy cuppa. With glass and stainless-steel electric kettles, you can worry less about plastic from regular electrics migrating from kettle to cup.
Personally Speaking
The Bite team flipped out over a chain email that claimed microwaved water is harmful to plants. After remembering that chain emails aren't the #1 most factual source for news, we looked into it and learned it wasn't true.Wanna Try?
Most efficient to least efficient: electric kettle, microwave, stovetop (gas over electric unless your power is from a green source).- Chef's Choice French Press Plus - combo French press and electric kettle; 1-qt capacity ($90).
- Breville Ikon - slick-looking, stainless-steel kettle that boils up to almost 2 qt of H2O ($70).
- Toastess Eco Kettle - has two chambers, so you can boil the amount you want without having to measure at the sink, but is mostly made of plastic; 1.5-qt capacity ($60).
Jan 23,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Double, Double, the Toil and Trouble
When I recently tried to donate blood, I was turned away because I had "spent three or more months in the UK from 1980 through 1996." The fear is that I may have been exposed to mad-cow disease during that time, but in truth, I ate little more than cheese and crackers, Nutella on crackers, and Cadbury chocolate (with a side of crackers). And I drank tea, tea, and more tea - up to, seriously, 12 cups a day.
Why? Because it tasted good, soothed my frozen bones, helped achieve the sensory boost needed for slogging through critical theory, and was quick to make. Like supersonic quick, thanks to the electric kettle we had. Ever since, I've kind of marveled at how few people here at home use them...how loooooong we wait for that pot to boil!! It's such an effort comparatively, but electric kettles haven't always been easy to find.
I just ushered a new Breville Ikon kettle into my kitchen. Wish me luck moderating my tea consumption.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to crack open a box of crackers...
Biter Comments...
When microwaving water, care needs to be taken. Unless you have a wooden stir stick or something else in the water, the energy somehow can build up and the water can explode in your face and burn you. I don't understand why this happens, but I know I don't want it to happen to me!
I'm not writing this to be some annoying naysayer- although I may sounds like one. I am an avid reader of your tips and love the amazing eco-conscious awareness that you guys spread!
I'm just a bit concerned about microwaves...
In today's tip you mentioned that you did some research on microwave and their effects on plants. Unfortunately, the literature regarding the health hazards caused be microwaves is pretty strong:
http://www.ghchealth.com/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers.html
As is the literature on the dangers of heating plastic containers:
http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys/toxics-fact-sheet
We've had the Breville kettle for about 1.5 years now, and I love it! It is fast, looks great, and very user friendly...and is still in great condition. Highly recommend it. Got ours at Crate & Barrel.
First - I completely agree with the above comment about microwaves. As a holistic clinical nutritionist, I would never reccomend using a microwave for anything. Especially for food or beverages. The Europeans have known about this for years.
Second - That Breville kettle is the best thing ever. I have gone through many electic kettles over the years and this has been the best. I use it everyday to drink my Numi tea. It's completely stainless steel not plastic (as you don't want to use plastic with anything that you are heating) and the heating element is is designed perfectly as opposed to the metal prong design that can bend and not contact properly. 5 stars from me!
I've been using a electric water kettle and a French Press to make coffee for years. It is much more efficient and creats less waste, no filter. It is also much easier to clean than a coffee maker, and the coffee is the best. It als works well to brew loose tea. I'll never go back to a coffee maker.
In regards to the above comments regarding microwaves, I completely agree. My mother is also a holistic nutritionist, who will soon be going for her PhD in the field. She is also certified internationally in colonoscopy, iridiology, massage therapy as well as nutritional consutaltion. So i'd say she's somewhat of an authority regarding nutrition? Anyways, she has showed me TONS of her medical books etc. that all show the harmfull effects microwaves have on our foods, ESPECIALLY beverages and plastic containers. There is one book in particular that speaks of the same experiment as shown in the BiteTip, but actually conducted in a lab, for a much more controlled environment and was conducted by actual scientists, not internet blogger wannabes (sorry, but seriously - snopes.com???). I believe that when enough research is done, the harmful effects of microwaves is completely undeniable. In the new home that we are currently moving into, we don't even have a microwave. It's be the best way to keep from using it! But hey, I'm just a dumb obnoxious college kid!
On a side note, i would also offer the books mentionned for reference, but I'm in the college library right now, so they're not on hand. But if I remember, maybe I'll post them when I get home.
I disagree totally. If you check out the carbon buster's handbook (by Godo Stoyke), you are correct in that electric energy is potentially better for the environment (as it might someday be all renewable) but you use more energy with an electric kettle than you do if you use a kettle over gas burner. The spead of heating water over a gas flame has something to do with this as does the fact that electric energy is typically a processed energy (from burning of coal, from nuke, or the like) and the processing and tranfer loss is significant. Check out the book - I found it amazing also. Certainly the electric kettle is better for health (no fumes possible and very little liklihood of burning down the kitchen) but for energy use it is not a good choice.
Why would you microwave water for plants anyways? something I don't know about???
The idea of the experiment was baasically to prove that the effects of microwaves on food products are harmful to humans; however the microwaved water on plants was just a small part of a larger project.. Although I don't know why so many people center on just this one issue. I guess alot of people believe that if it's deadly to plants, it can't be very good for us (which is definitely true to an extent!)
to be a bit nit-picky... with regards to the environment, what about all of the petroleum that goes into making those little plastic nuke boxes? if we discontinued producing them and ate/drank healthful meals the globe would be a lot healthier. one of the reasons we love organic herbs, spices, nuts and seeds is that they are non-irradiated!
Great idea that electric kettle. Do you use instant coffee with that or what? A bit clueless here today!
I don't own an electric kettle so I'm mystified by the comments concerning the efficiency and energy savings of these electric kettles. Electricity is generated by burning fuel at a central generating station. That electricity is transported to your home by wires and transformers that cost money. Consumers pay for the fuel, wires, and all the related overheads of the electric company in their utility bill. While the electric kettle may be more cost efficient a few more qualifing facts are required than just to say it's so!
The spead of heating water over a gas flame has something to do with this as does the fact that electric energy is typically a processed energy (from burning of coal, from nuke, or the like) and the processing and tranfer loss is significant. Check out the book - I found it amazing also.
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There is one book in particular that speaks of the same experiment as shown in the BiteTip, but actually conducted in a lab, for a much more controlled environment and was conducted by actual scientists, not internet blogger wannabes Help Desk Outsourcing
My mother is also a holistic nutritionist, who will soon be going for her PhD in the field. She is also certified internationally in colonoscopy, iridiology, massage therapy as well as nutritional consutaltion. Birthday gift ideas
In today’s tip you mentioned that you did some research on microwave and their effects on plants. Unfortunately, the literature regarding the health hazards caused be microwaves is pretty strong. free payday loans
The Europeans have known about this for years. Second - That Breville kettle is the best thing ever. I have gone through many electic kettles over the years and this has been the best. Life Vests
As a holistic clinical nutritionist, I would never reccomend using a microwave for anything. Especially for food or beverages. promotional pens
That electricity is transported to your home by wires and transformers that cost money. Consumers pay for the fuel, wires, and all the related overheads of the electric company in their utility bill. While the electric kettle may be more cost efficient a few more qualifing facts are required than just to say it’s so! . Siena
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Heather | January 23, 2008 at 08:15 AM