Boil only as much water as you need

Thunderstorm clouds, United States
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

Whether you use an electric kettle or a saucepan, heating water uses energy. There is no point in doubling the energy you use, for no purpose. Boil only what is necessary. A study found that if all British people did this on just one day, the energy saved could power all the country's streetlights through the following night.

When you boil water for tea or a hot drink, try to boil only what you need, or pour the surplus into a thermos flask to keep the water very hot until you need it.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth', by Philippe Bourseiller