This will change the way you make coffee at home

Small changes, including how you make your coffee, can have a big impact on your next power bill

If you’ve reached boiling point with financial experts telling you how you could have a home deposit or pay off your mortgage quicker if you just stopped buying takeaway coffees you had better brace yourself for more bad news. Now it’s our instant caffeine fix in the firing line.

Because most of us have to, we’ve tackled the big power-guzzlers in our homes – washing lines instead of clothes dryers, unnecessary lights being switched off, air-conditioner and heaters set to a frugal 24 degrees – but there’s some smaller changes worth a go as well.

Queensland Consumer Association spokesman Ian Jarratt says “the cheapest electricity is that which you don’t use.”

“You usually can have the biggest impact on consumption and the bill by making changes to big consumption items like room-heating and cooling, hot water, plasma-screen televisions, fridges and freezers, halogen downlights,” he reminds us.

“But making several changes that are individually small can also greatly reduce bills.”

He points to filling the kettle to the brim just to make a cuppa.

It takes longer to boil a jug that is full, which in turns spins the dial on the kilowatt meter.

CAFFEINE FIX: Brianne Tesar of Morningside says she’ll now not fill up the kettle if it’s just coffee for one. Picture: Jamie Hanson

And “spoiler alert” – Mr Jarratt proffers the thought that we’re mugs for not resorting to microwave oven for percolating our favourite beverage.

He rates simply turning off the water in the shower while you shampoo and condition your hair (hot water elementally is a big electricity user) and cranking up the dishwasher or washing machine only when there’s enough for a full load as classic cash catchers.

But coming across all fastidious and furious won’t endear you to everyone in the household – especially among that demographic for whom comprehending quarterly power bills (and almost everything else) is a waste of energy.

That’s why I’m constantly going about the house turning off lights and unplugging heaters (or ceiling fans in summer) the kids forgetfully have left blazing away in their rooms.

But money talks.

“To get the whole family on board and involved, motivate them by sharing with them part of any savings they help to achieve,” Mr Jarratt suggests.

Comparison website, Finder, has released research revealing that four out of 10 Queenslanders still have not done a thing to reduce their power bills.

Some 35 per cent of those surveyed were sanguine about their usage; only 13 per cent had called their provider and asked for a better deal, and only 11 per cent had flicked the switch to an opposition outfit.

Maybe that’s why one in 10 admitted to making lifestyle sacrifices such as cutting down on eating out and shopping, rather than seriously trying to get the power monkey off their back.

Graham Cooke, energy expert at Finder, said Aussies were experiencing growing discomfort with the current situation.

“After years of energy price hikes, there is a high level of electricity bill stress among Australians,” he said.

“Energy is something many of us set and forget. Rarely do we change plans, or better yet, providers.

“But by changing tariff or suppliers, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars a year.”

And if you’re going to think about it over a cup of coffee, just make sure you haven’t filled the jug to the top.