Sami Grover
DCL
I try to be tolerant of other people's ungreen habits. After all, I've been told off enough times by friends for eating meat, using paper towels, and a whole host of other "eco-crimes" to know that we all have different comfort levels and different priorities when it comes to sustainable living. But just as not cooking with a lid is liable to send my inner eco-curmudgeon into overdrive, so too does filling your kettle to the max just because you need a cup of tea. I mean really, does the tea taste better because you have to wait for it?
By filling up your kettle, or your pan for pasta, vegetables or whatever, with just the right amount of water (and yes, pasta instructions will tell you way more than you really need), the water will boil quicker, you'll use less energy, and you even get to drink/eat sooner than you would otherwise. What's not to like? I've got my technique down so I know by sight exactly the amount of water I need for my morning cup of coffee - but if that seems a little risky (I know that short changing yourself on coffee can be traumatic!), then why not just grab a mug and measure?
Lloyd already touched on this subject when he urged folks to get an electric kettle (which are twice as efficient as a stove-top model) - and one English designer has created an Eco Kettle to take the guess work out of measuring - though our commenters were not entirely convinced of its utility.
Oh - and for those who want to go further, check out Trevor's suggestion for cooking pasta without pre-heating, or you could make sun tea with a homemade solar water heater.
Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.
