How often do you completely fill your kettle with water, even if you're just making one cup of tea? Turns out boiling only as much water as you need is a simple way to save energy and money.
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Australian sustainability influencers Jen and Lish (@jenlishfixitchicks) of The FixIt Chicks shared this simple but effective tip in a recent Instagram video.
“When making tea or coffee, only boil enough water to make the amount you need,” says Riche. “Every time I boil a kettle, I do a little math in my head: boil that much water, drink the tea, and forget about it.”
In her caption, Risch explained how she learned this tip at an energy conservation workshop years ago: “One of the first tips was this: only boil as much water as you need. I knew it, but no one else did!”
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Boiling only what you need saves you both time and money: boiling less water means your kettle will boil faster, meaning you get your caffeine fix faster.
You'll also use less electricity, which means lower utility bills. Recent estimates suggest that it costs about 3.5 cents to boil a kettle of water each time. If you boil only what you need, that cost drops in half. The savings add up over time, especially for people who drink coffee or tea every day.
But the benefits go beyond just your wallet: Using less energy also reduces demand on power plants, many of which still burn dirty fuels. Making these simple changes could significantly reduce the carbon pollution that contributes to global warming.
This tip dovetails well with a similar recent tip from a celebrity chef who pointed out that you don't need to leave the burner under your pasta pot on high for the entire time stated on the packaging.
Chef Danilo Cortellini recommended turning off the heat and covering the pasta after the two minutes, but acknowledged that this may be a matter of preference for whether you like your pasta al dente or soft, so it's worth trying in your own kitchen.
What people are saying
FixIt Chicks' followers appreciated the reminder to be mindful of their energy usage.
“Just put in as much water as needed. What a waste of electricity,” one commenter wrote.
Another agreed: “Yes I agree, why waste energy boiling water you don't need?”
Sometimes it's the simplest tips that make the biggest difference. “Thanks for the reminder,” one fan commented.
The next time you habitually grab a kettle to boil tea, remember Riche's wise words: Small changes to your daily tea habits can add up to big savings for you and the planet.
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