Is the Eco Kettle worth buying?

Greenmystyle.com reviews the ‘pioneering’ Eco Kettle, and marvels at a kitchen appliance that can save both energy, money and our sanity in a crisis.

Editor Sarah Woodhead writes:

I have a bad habit. No, it’s not chocolate, chardonnay or tall, dark, handsome strangers. It’s tea. Yes, I’m one of those people who chain-drinks tea and reacts to all crises, big or small, with those peace-brokering words: ‘Shall I put the kettle on?’

So, when it came to thinking about which home appliances to green up first – kettle, washing machine or toaster for starters – I figured that as I drink tea more often than I wash my smalls it would have to be an eco kettle.

No sooner had I thunk it, than the lovely people at eco store BigGreenSmile.com sent me one to review. Thank you BigGreenSmile, and thanks too for now stocking the beauty range Yes To Carrots. That’s got to be one of the best brand names since No To Sprouts hasn’t it? I look forward to reviewing that too.

So, I’ve been roadtesting the Eco Kettle (yes, its real name) for two weeks now. I say ‘roadtesting’, but the only driving I’ve done with it is drive it hard with frequent use! Is it wrong to literally breath a sigh of relief and feel tension ebb away at the mere sound of a kettle switch flicking on?

The official blurb about the Eco Kettle…

This is the product description: “The Eco Kettle helps you save electricity. Until now, accurately measuring the amount of water to be boiled in a kettle has been all but impossible. The result? It is estimated that, on average, we boil twice the volume of water needed every time. Which means twice as much energy, twice as much time. With a 3kW kettle that’s the same as wasting the energy of around 50 light bulbs!

“With its patented “Dual Chamber” design, the Eco Kettle is different. The internal reservoir holds 1.5 litres of water ready for use, while the measuring button allows any quantity to be released into a separate chamber for boiling. Simply fill up, then decide exactly how much water to boil – from one cup to full capacity – at the touch of a button.

“The result? With the Eco kettle you use exactly the right amount of water every time you boil – and no more waste. Brilliantly Simple – Simply Brilliant!

In independent consumer trials, directed by the Energy Saving Trust, the energy saving Eco Kettle used an average of 31% less energy than standard kettles.”

Impressive so far, yes? Plus, I’ve also discovered that the Eco Kettle has been approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute and is recommended by Powergen as a “pioneering product in the battle to save energy in the nation’s homes”.

Now for my review…

The Eco Kettle does, for sure, take less time to boil than my ordinary Bodum kettle. Now, my GCSE-level physics suggest to me that this has to simply be down to measuring a one-mug amount of water more accurately than I do with the Bodum.

I must admit this flummoxed me at first. As I’ve always been one of life’s careful measurers, I presumed that the dual chamber feature wouldn’t benefit me much. I was wrong, and as I write I am happily drinking a more environmentally-friendly cup of tea that has cost me less to make.

With regards to style – and yes, that’s a factor for greenmystyle.com – the Eco Kettle isn’t going to win any design awards. It’s a fairly bogstandard design; white, plasticy and a little bulky to accommodate the energy-saving dual chamber action. It isn’t as stylish as the sleek slate grey Bodum kettle, for example. Shame.

The Eco kettle retails at about the £30-£40 mark, depending on where you buy it. More expensive eco kettles might include water filtration too, which would help prevent the build up of limescale and possibly extend the life of your kettle.

Overall, I’d say don’t chuck out your perfectly good kettle for the sake of the Eco Kettle. But, when your kettle reaches the end of its natural life, this Eco kettle does what it says, is a good price and definitely worth considering.

Buy this kettle now at Big Green Smile for the discounted price of £29.99 (down from £39.99)

Do you own the Eco Kettle? We’d love to know what you think. Please leave a comment below.