Habits in the boil: how electric kettles reveal barriers and opportunities for sustainable energy transitions

Abstract

Household energy practices significantly influence broader sustainability transitions, yet they often receive limited scholarly attention compared to large-scale systems. This paper critically examines the role of electric kettles as a lens into behavioural inertia, technological efficiency, and the psychological drivers shaping domestic energy use. Drawing on recent data from the UK and Türkiye, the study compares the efficiency, cost, and cultural factors influencing kettle versus stovetop boiling, demonstrating that despite their high thermal efficiency, electric kettles’ potential for energy savings is constrained by ingrained user habits. The paper explores how psychological, cultural, and practical barriers hinder optimal kettle use and outlines how innovative control technologies, design innovations, and behaviourally informed policy interventions could unlock significant cumulative savings. Findings underscore the importance of combining technical innovation with user-centred strategies to shift everyday practices, arguing that even small appliances play a pivotal role in achieving large-scale carbon reduction targets.