The selected article discusses the topic of energy-wasting in relation to the inefficient use of electric kettles. The authors report that the world’s population uses these appliances several times a day. For example, in the UK, around 40% of individuals use a kettle five times a day or more (Murray et al. 2016). The same study reports that in Libya, the number of homes owning a kettle has increased by almost 35% during the past five years. It is necessary to mention that an electric kettle is more energy-efficient than the stovetop one because the latter utilizes less power and takes more time to boil the same volume of water. The authors note that electric kettles are among the most inefficiently used appliances (Murray et al. 2016). Individuals tend to overfill kettles while boiling water, which leads to the poor use of energy and money (Selvefors et al. 2018). The possible root of the problem is that people perceive kettle usage as a routine and do not analyze the potential outcomes of their actions.
The article discusses the need for the investigation of consumer behavior patterns related to using electric kettles and energy conservation. The authors report that the increased utilization of these appliances, a lack of efficiency-related guidelines, and slow technological progress result in poor environmental outcomes of individuals’ habit to overfill kettles (Murray et al. 2016). The study provides an analysis of patterns of kettle usage and their implications for predicting the consequences. It offers a method that can be utilized to identify the households that contribute to the problem, as well as a mathematical model that considers required water fill levels and kettles’ consumed power. In addition, the article features a literature review, analyzing the studies referring to the usage of domestic appliances, appliance-level load prediction, and energy usage of kettles. The authors provide the results of their investigation, testing the assumption that it is possible to predict extensive use of this appliance (Murray et al. 2016). They reveal the results of a longitudinal study considering the general time of utilization of kettles, electricity consumption, energy waste, and potential demand for boiled water. The study uses an artificial neural network based on the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy inference system along with mathematical modeling.
The research shows that it is possible to predict kettle usage accurately with the help of distinct patterns of use. The authors report that there are peak times, such as morning and evening around dinner, during which individuals tend to boil water more often (Murray et al. 2016). For instance, there is a high number of kettle uses around 7 A.M.; the majority of them are overfilled. The authors note that their study can be applied by network operators to eliminate negative effects on the grid, promote more efficient behavior of filling, and enrich customer energy feedback (Murray et al. 2016). The article supports the goal of ensuring responsible consumption as its findings can help to eliminate the excessive use of energy and water.
Reference List
Murray, DM, Liao, J, Stankovic, L & Stankovic, V 2016, ‘Understanding usage patterns of electric kettle and energy saving potential’, Applied Energy, vol. 171, pp. 231-242.
Selvefors, A, Marx, C, Karlsson, MI & Rahe 2018, ‘(How) can appliances be designed to support less energy-intensive use? Insights from a field study on kitchen appliances’, International Journal of Design, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 35-55.