Duke Energy Offers Energy-Saving Tips to Stay Cool and Save Money This Summer

With temperatures soaring well into the 90s this summer, Duke Energy encourages customers to take some simple steps to stay cool and save money.

“When temperatures are consistently high like they’ve been the past few weeks, we know customers will use more energy as their air conditioners operate longer and more frequently to keep their homes cool,” said Gianna Manes, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief customer officer. “Across our five-state service area, we’re seeing residential customer bill increases anywhere from 12 to 19 percent compared to this time last year, so it’s important that customers understand how making a few simple changes can make a difference in their monthly energy costs,” Manes said. 

Energy-Saving Information
·        Adjusting your thermostat up a few degrees can reduce your cooling costs by as much as 5 percent. Start by setting your thermostat on the highest comfortable setting and then adjust it up when you leave home. 

·        If you have a ceiling-mounted fan, you can raise your thermostat by as much as four degrees when you are home without noticing a difference in temperature. A ceiling fan will create wind, it will not cool a room, so be sure to turn if off when you’re not home.

·        Place heat-producing appliances such as lamps and televisions away from the air conditioning thermostat to prevent inaccurate temperature readings. 

·        For homes without air conditioning systems, use fans to draw cooler air inside during the night and to circulate air throughout your home during the day. Fan blades should rotate counter-clockwise in the summer months. 

·        Save jobs that produce moisture — like mopping, dishwashing and washing clothes — for early morning or night-time hours. The humidity from these activities can make homes uncomfortable. On hot days, cook outdoors, use a microwave oven or prepare cold meals to avoid excess heat in the home.

For more energy-saving tips and information — including a thermostat calculator that demonstrates possible savings – visit www.duke-energy.com. Click the “residential” tab and select your state. Tips and tools are available in the “Save Energy & Money” section.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.