Who heats a kettle full of water for a cup of tea?

Oh yes! We measure a glassfull per person. I was working in a nursing home, as a cleaner. As they'd tell me , 'only a cleaner'. At tea break once there were two of us waiting for the electric kettle to boil. It began to bubble. As it was the nurse who'd put it on I waited a bit, then couldnt resist and turned it off. The nurse was furious! She turned it in again, and let it boil until the thermostat clicked it off. Seemed like forever. Seems we're programmed to do things, and dont think about why. The thermostats need to be more reactive, as we aren't.

What I do varies very much according to the time of year and what else is going on.

If it's summertime and I just want a cup of tea made using the electric kettle, then yes, I'll boil the exact amount I want in the kettle.

In the wintertime, when the woodstove is running, I'll boil the biggest kettle full of water on the stove and have left-overs for washing dishes or myself or the laundry.

In spring and autumn when I want hot water for washing dishes, I'll often heat up enough in the electric kettle to provide enough to do that after I've had my cuppa. In the middle of summer I can draw hot water from the tap outside as the pipes heat up in the sun so I don't need the kettle to heat it for washing.

My mother always measured the water into the kettle, but she also always had a tank full of hot water for washing other things. I suspect it's more economical to not have that hot water tank on a thermostat but to heat up just what you need when you need it.

John C Daley wrote:I am surprised nobody seemed to think about storing water in a jug instead of the kettle, or using a smaller kettle.

As for not recognising the energy or water waste astounds me.
Perhaps I am the only fool on the planet.

R Ranson, perhaps other stuff is being poured down the drain that should not be, thus causing the blockages?
I know oils and fats are a no no.

I don't store water because... we have so much of it. I guess it depends where one lives?  We pay flat fee for a year and can water 24/7 if we want to but... we don't. We  remember too well (no pun intended) times when we were on the well/cistern. And I grew up carrying water in pails from outside. So, the old habits didn't die :-)

I am a strictly tea drinker and years ago, Wal-Mart used to carry  Mrs. Tea maker . I bought it and still, am very pleased with that gadget. It makes 2 cups. Sure, it uses electricity but I don't have the means (read: brains)  to do with out it :-)

As for pouring stuff down the drain, I'm wondering why we don't have "gray water"  system (from laundry and kitchen sinks) like in RV's to flush toilets.
Also, the disposable toilet wipes cause clogs in the sewer systems.
I use vinegar + baking soda with leftover boiled water from canning, cooking pasta, potatoes and whatever (as long as it's water without any bits in it)  to keep sinks clear. I don't pour boiling or very hot water in toilets as they can crack .

I think many people just don't think about water nor its disposal. I's just there.  
Thank you :-)

John C Daley wrote:I am surprised nobody seemed to think about storing water in a jug instead of the kettle, or using a smaller kettle.

As for not recognising the energy or water waste astounds me.
Perhaps I am the only fool on the planet.

R Ranson, perhaps other stuff is being poured down the drain that should not be, thus causing the blockages?
I know oils and fats are a no no.

No  You are not alone.

Gray water systems aren't fully legal here.  We did have one and got the approval of the City, but apparently it falls under health authority and they haven't caught up with the science yet.  We had to uninstall the system.   But I still pour dish water on the roses in the summer.

Another reason why adjusting for local conditions is essential.  

Vinegar plus baking soda makes salt.   The reaction loosens material in the upper drain,  but from running experiments,  it is the boiling water that does the most to keep the drains clear.

It does really depend on your circumstances.  I used to really conserve water--saving the shower water in a bucket to flush the toilet and such.  However, after we moved to our current house we had a couple incidents with nasty sediment showing up in the tap water.  The water department sent a guy out who said the problem was low flow due to not enough usage on the block.  He then "flushed the main" by opening the fire hydrant pouring water out into the street.

Soooooo, now I use the city water with abandon in the name of keeping the system clean.

I used to do this and leave the extra for later to reheat. The water sitting to long and constantly reheated changes the tea taste to 'tin-ish' or 'metal-ley' or definable as 'Iron-ish', depending on the kettles metal. Ithen was not only wasting energy (electric but guess what fires the plant), but wasting filtered and RO well water! Now I guess-timate two 12 oz mugs and would rather fill for another IF he and I or me and another want another. Lower water heats quickly and b4 anyone says anything; I abhor microwaving my good water or most anything I can wait on. Waiting gives time for a load of laundry or a quick shower and change of clothes!