CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday lights are
going up all across the country, bringing bright colors and welcome
cheer. But if you wonder how much your energy bill will go up, Duke
Energy has the solution.
To help customers plan and manage their light displays, Duke
Energy offers a holiday lighting energy calculator that estimates
holiday lighting costs. Estimate your costs before decorating and
incorporate efficient, budget-friendly lighting options.
Holiday lighting calculator:
duke-energy.com/holiday
Users can identify the type of lights, the number of 100-bulb
strands and how many hours the lights will be used per day to
estimate the energy cost per day and per month. Based on their
lighting selections, customers can receive energy-efficient tips
and options.
For example, six 100-bulb sets of large, incandescent bulbs (600
bulbs total) plugged in six hours every evening can add about
$75 to a monthly power bill.
By comparison, six 100-bulb sets of similarly styled
light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs would increase a monthly power
bill by only about $5. Using six
100-bulb sets of mini-LED bulbs would increase a monthly power bill
by only 72 cents.
Watts cooking?
Whether you are mixing, roasting or baking your favorite holiday
dishes, use our cooking calculator to see the total cost of
preparing everything from appetizers to desserts.
Holiday cooking calculator:
duke-energy.com/calculator
Money-saving tips to combat the cold
As the holiday season heats up, temperatures will cool down.
Help save on your winter energy bills with the following tips:
- The thermostat can be the biggest contributor of high winter
bills. Select the lowest comfortable setting on your thermostat
when you're home and then lower the temperature a degree or two
when you leave.
- Change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a
heating system work harder, which uses more energy.
- Inefficient heating can also add to monthly power bills during
colder temperatures. Regular service calls from a licensed
technician will help to properly maintain your heating and cooling
system.
- The ceiling fan is a great way to stay cool in the summer and
warm in the winter. Simply set the fans to operate in a clockwise
direction, which pushes warm air back down into the room.
- On sunny days, leave your drapes or blinds open to allow the
sun's rays to warm the house.
- Wear warm clothing for additional energy savings at home. If
you're planning a holiday party this season, consider a holiday
sweater theme. That way, you can bump down the thermostat a degree
or two while your guests stay warm and toasty.
A safe and happy holiday season
Having a happy holiday means having a safe holiday. Before your
deck the halls, follow these tips to stay safe and happy this
holiday season:
- Before installing lights, check each set – new and old – for
damaged sockets, loose connections and frayed or bare wires.
Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
- Never use more than three standard-sized sets of lights per
extension cord.
- Plug exterior lights into ground-fault interruptible (GFI)
outlets only. If the home lacks outside GFI outlets, call an
electrician to install them.
- Before climbing a ladder, inspect it to ensure it's in good
working condition and follow the weight limits specified on the
ladder and manufacturer instructions.
- Never use a ladder on or near power lines or poles.
For more tips and information on how to save energy and money,
visit duke-energy.com.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of the
largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000
people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts
through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its
nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience,
modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and
expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy
future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric
Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve
approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states –
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities
and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6
million customers in five states – North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit
operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as
well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2019 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets,
photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination
features stories about people, innovations, community topics and
environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn,
Instagram and Facebook.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy