Both my sister and I had a bit of a shock this morning when she plugged the EcoManager transmitter into our kettle. It gave us this reading: Energy 2.88 kW; 1.55kg CO2; cost per day £11.36; cost per month £338.10.
We couldn't believe how much energy it uses! Of course, you're not going to have a kettle boiling at full whack for a whole month, but still ... It has really made me think about how much water I put in the kettle.
I've got one of those kettles that gives you the cup amount down the side, so there's no excuse. Before I'd think nothing about filling it all the way to the top but now it seems crazy to fill it up when I'm only making one cup.
Anyway, I feel quite smug as it's not me but my sister who has to have a cup of tea every morning. I just have a glass of cranberry juice before I head off to training.
Maybe I should buy her one of those energy-saving kettles so we save even more electricity.
About the author
Marc is a full-time wheelchair tennis player and Paralympic hopeful. He lives in west London with his sister in a four-bedroomed house. His most guilty energy habits are washing his tennis kit every day and leaving his TV, PlayStation and DVD on standby. EDF Energy is working with athletes such as Marc to turn ParalympicsGB into a truly "green team" ahead of 2012.
